▁conduct or ▁of ▁electric ity . ▁For ▁a ▁metal , ▁z inc ▁has ▁relatively ▁low ▁mel ting ▁( 4 1 9 . 5   ° C , ▁ 7 8 7 . 1   F ) ▁and ▁bo iling ▁points ▁( 9 0 7   ° C ). ▁Cad m ium ▁is ▁similar ▁in ▁many ▁respect s ▁to ▁z inc ▁but ▁forms ▁complex ▁comp ounds . ▁Un like ▁other ▁met als , ▁cad m ium ▁is ▁resist ant ▁to ▁cor ros ion ▁and ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁it ▁is ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁protect ive ▁layer ▁when ▁depos ited ▁on ▁other ▁met als . ▁As ▁a ▁bulk ▁metal , ▁cad m ium ▁is ▁ins ol ub le ▁in ▁water ▁and ▁is ▁not ▁ ▁fl amm able ; ▁however , ▁in ▁its ▁pow der ed ▁form ▁it ▁may ▁burn ▁and ▁release ▁to xic ▁f umes . ▁Mercur y ▁has ▁an ▁exception ally ▁low ▁mel ting ▁temperature ▁for ▁a ▁d - block ▁metal . ▁A ▁complete ▁explanation ▁of ▁this ▁fact ▁requires ▁a ▁deep ▁exc urs ion ▁into ▁quantum ▁physics , ▁but ▁it ▁can ▁be ▁summar ized ▁as ▁follows : ▁mer cur y ▁has ▁a ▁unique ▁electronic ▁configuration ▁where ▁electrons ▁fill ▁up ▁all ▁the ▁available ▁ 1 s , ▁ 2 s , ▁ 2 p , ▁ 3 s , ▁ 3 p , ▁ 3 d , ▁ 4 s , ▁ 4 p , ▁ 4 d , ▁ 4 f , ▁ 5 s , ▁ 5 p , ▁ 5 d ▁and ▁