Lead

Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. It is highly corrosion-resistant and a poor conductor of electricity. Lead is still used in some commercial products made or imported into the United States. However, exposure to lead can cause health problems.

Hydrogen

Identity.

Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. It is a soft, silvery white or grayish metal in Group 14 (IVa) of the periodic table. Natural Pb is a mixture of four stable isotopes: 204Pb (1.4%), 206Pb (24.1%), 207Pb (22.1%), and 208Pb (52.4%).

History.

Lead (symbol Pb), a soft, silvery white or grayish metal, belongs to Group 14 (IVa) of the periodic table. Here’s a brief history of lead:

  • Ancient Egyptians: They were likely the first to extract lead, using it to create small sculptures. Compounds of lead were also found in Egyptian pottery glazes.
  • China: By 2000 BCE, lead was used in China to forge coins.
  • Greeks: They recognized lead’s corrosion-resistant properties and applied it as a protective covering on ship hulls.

Usage.

Lead is used in a variety of applications, including

  • Car batteries
  • Pigments
  • Ammunition
  • Cable sheathing
  • Weights for lifting

Sources.

Rarely found free in nature, lead is present in several minerals, but all are of minor significance except the sulfide, PbS (galena, or lead glance), which is the major source of lead production throughout the world. Lead is also found in anglesite (PbSO 4) and cerussite (PbCO 3).