CAS: 7439-92-1
Description: Soft, bluish-white metal
Classification: Other Metals
Date of Discovery: Known to the ancients
Discoverer: Unknown
Name Origin: Anglo-Saxon lead Symbol Origin: Latin plumbum, "lead"
Atomic Number: 82
Number of Neutrons: 125
Atomic Mass: 207.2(1) amu
Melting Point: 327.46 °C
Boiling Point: 1749 °C
Density (293 K): 11.35 g/cm3 Atomic volume: 18.17 cm3/mol
Electrical resistivity: 0.0481 10-6/cm Thermal conductivity: 0.353 W/cmK
Enthalpy of atomization: 194.6 kJ/mol
Enthalpy of vaporization: 177.70 kJ/mol
Enthalpy of fusion: 4.799 kJ/mol
Specific heat capacity: 0.13 J/gK
Energy levels: 2-8-18-31-18-4
Electron configuration: [Xe]4f 145d106s26p2 Crystal Structure: Cubic face centered
Atomic radius: 1.81 Å
Covalent radius: 1.47 Å
Oxidation States: +2, +4
Electronegativity, Pauling: 2.04
Electron affinity: 0.364 eV
First ionization energy: 7.416 eV
2nd ionization energy: 15.028 eV
3rd ionization energy: 31.943 eV
Polarizability: 6.8 10-24cm3
Isotope
Natural Abundance
Atomic Mass
Half-life
Decay Mode
Spin
182Pb
181.99268
0.06 s
183Pb
182.9919
0.3 s
1/2+
184Pb
183.9882
0.6 s
0+
185Pb
184.9876
4.1 s
186Pb
185.9835
5 s
+, EC;
0+
187mPb
15.2 s
+, EC
(1/2-)
187Pb
186.9839
18.3 s
EC;
13/2+
188Pb
187.9811
23 s
EC;
0+
189Pb
188.9809
51 s
EC;
190Pb
189.9782
1.2 m
+; EC;
0+
191mPb
2.2 m
+, EC
13/2+
191Pb
190.9782
1.3 m
+, EC
192Pb
191.9758
3.5 m
+;
0+
193mPb
5.8 m
+, EC
13/2+
193Pb
192.9761
2 m
EC
3/2
194Pb
193.9740
11 m
+, EC;
0+
195mPb
15 m
+; EC
13/2+
195Pb
194.976
15 m
+, EC
196Pb
195.9727
37 m
+, EC
0+
197Pb
196.9734
8 m
EC; +
(3/2-)
198Pb
197.9720
2.4 h
EC
0+
199mPb
12.2 m
IT; +, EC
199Pb
198.9729
1.5 h
EC; -
5/2-
200Pb
199.97182
21.5 h
EC
0+
201mPb
1.02 m
IT
13/2+
201Pb
200.97285
9.33 h
EC
5/2-
202mPb
3.53 h
IT; +
9-
202Pb
201.97214
5.3 x 104 y
EC
0+
203mPb
6.2 s
IT
13/2+
203Pb
202.97338
2.1615 d
EC
5/2-
204mPb
1.12 h
IT
9-
204Pb
1.4(1)
203.973028
Stable
0+
205Pb
204.974467
1.51 x 107 y
EC
5/2-
206Pb
24.1(1)
205.974449
Stable
0+
207mPb
0.80 s
IT
13/2+
207Pb
22.1(1)
206.975880
Stable
1/2-
208Pb
52.4(1)
207.976636
Stable
0+
209Pb
208.981075
3.25 h
-
9/2+
210Pb
209.984174
22.6 y
-;
0+
211Pb
210.988732
36.1 m
-
(9/2+)
212Pb
211.991887
10.64 h
-
0+
213Pb
212.9966
10.2 m
-
214Pb
213.999797
26.9 m
-
0+
Long known, mentioned in Exodus. The alchemists believed lead to be the oldest metal and
associated it with the planet Saturn. Native lead occurs in nature, but it is rare. Lead is obtained chiefly from galena (PbS) by a roasting process. Anglesite (PbSO4), cerussite (PbCO3), and
minim (Pb3O4) are other common lead minerals. Lead is a bluish-white metal of bright luster, is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to
corrosion; lead pipes bearing the insignia of Roman emperors, used as drains from the baths, are still in service. It is used in containers for corrosive liquids (such as sulfuric acid) and may be toughened by the addition of a small percentage of antimony or other metals. Natural lead is a mixture of four stable isotopes: 204Pb (1.4%), 206Pb (24.1 %), 207Pb (22.1 %), and 208Pb (52.4%). Lead isotopes are the end products of each of the three series of naturally occurring radioactive elements: 206Pb for the uranium series, 207Pb for the actinium series, and 208Pb for the thorium series. Forty other isotopes of lead, all of which are radioactive, are recognized. Its alloys include solder, type metal, and various antifriction metals. Great quantities of lead, both as the metal and as the dioxide, are used in storage batteries. Much metal also goes into cable covering, plumbing, ammunition, and in the manufacture of lead tetraethyl. The metal is very effective as a sound absorber, is used as a radiation shield around X-ray equipment and nuclear reactors, and is used to absorb vibration. White lead, the basic carbonate, sublimed white lead (PbSO4) chrome yellow (PbCrO4), red lead (Pb3O4), and other lead compounds are used extensively in paints, although in recent years the use of lead in paints has been drastically curtailed to eliminate or reduce health hazards. Lead oxide isused in producing fine "crystal glass" and "flint glass" of a high index of refraction for achromatic lenses. The nitrate and the acetate are soluble salts. Lead salts such as lead arsenate have been used as insecticides, but their use in recent years has been practically eliminated in favor of less harmful organic compounds. Care must be used in handling lead as it is a cumulative poison. Environmental concern with lead poisoning has resulted in a national program to eliminate the lead in gasoline.
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