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Lead

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 Ohm Symbol
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 alpha symbol
183Pb 182.9919 0.3 s alpha symbol 1/2+
184Pb 183.9882 0.6 s alpha symbol 0+
185Pb 184.9876 4.1 s alpha symbol
186Pb 185.9835 5 s Beta Symbol+, EC; alpha symbol 0+
187mPb 15.2 s Beta Symbol+, EC (1/2-)
187Pb 186.9839 18.3 s EC; alpha symbol 13/2+
188Pb 187.9811 23 s EC; alpha symbol 0+
189Pb 188.9809 51 s EC; alpha symbol
190Pb 189.9782 1.2 m Beta Symbol+; EC; alpha symbol 0+
191mPb 2.2 m Beta Symbol+, EC 13/2+
191Pb 190.9782 1.3 m Beta Symbol+, EC
192Pb 191.9758 3.5 m Beta Symbol+; alpha symbol 0+
193mPb 5.8 m Beta Symbol+, EC 13/2+
193Pb 192.9761 Alpha Symbol2 m EC 3/2
194Pb 193.9740 11 m Beta Symbol+, EC; alpha symbol 0+
195mPb 15 m Beta Symbol+; EC 13/2+
195Pb 194.976 Alpha Symbol15 m Beta Symbol+, EC
196Pb 195.9727 37 m Beta Symbol+, EC 0+
197Pb 196.9734 Alpha Symbol8 m EC; Beta Symbol+ (3/2-)
198Pb 197.9720 2.4 h EC 0+
199mPb 12.2 m IT; Beta Symbol+, EC
199Pb 198.9729 1.5 h EC; Beta Symbol- 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; Beta Symbol+ 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 Beta Symbol- 9/2+
210Pb 209.984174 22.6 y Beta Symbol-; alpha symbol 0+
211Pb 210.988732 36.1 m Beta Symbol- (9/2+)
212Pb 211.991887 10.64 h Beta Symbol- 0+
213Pb 212.9966 10.2 m Beta Symbol-
214Pb 213.999797 26.9 m Beta Symbol- 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.
LINKS:

EPA - Lead Hazard Info Pamphlet
HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control
Lead Poisoning Prevention Outreach Program
Minerals Containing Lead
Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children


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Sources for the information on this website include:
Lide, David R., ed. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78th Ed., 1997-1998.