Cadmium is a formidable environmental metallotoxin. The involvement of Cd(II) in cellular pathologies in lower and higher organisms entails interactions with both low and high molecular mass targets. Hydroxycarboxylate substrates are such low molecular mass key cellular molecules contributing to cellular physiology. They are excellent metal ionic chelators promoting complex formation and metal ion absorption by biological tissues. Poised to comprehend Cd(II) toxicity at the molecular level, the aqueous synthetic chemistry of that metal ion with hydroxycarboxylic acids was investigated in aqueous media.