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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Lead – Pb

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Lead is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Lead. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Lead Menu

• Lead Page One
  • Overview of Lead
  • Lead's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Lead
  • Chemical Properties of Lead
  • Physical Properties of Lead
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Lead Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Lead Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Lead

Overview of Lead

• Atomic Number:82
• Group: 14
• Period: 6
• Series: Metals

Lead's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Plumbum
• Czech: Olovo
• Croatian: Olovo
• French: Plomb
• German: Blei - s
• Italian: Piombo
• Norwegian: Bly
• Portuguese: Chumbo
• Russian:
• Spanish: Plomo
• Swedish: Bly

Atomic Structure of Lead

• Atomic Radius: 1.81Å
• Atomic Volume: 18.17cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.47Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 0.171
• Crystal Structure: Cubic face centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰f¹⁴ 5s²p⁶d¹⁰ 6s²p²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,32,18,4

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 1.19Å
• Filling Orbital: 6p²
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 82
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 125
• Number of Protons: 82
• Oxidation States: 4,2
• Valence Electrons: 6s²p²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Lead

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 3.865g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.25eV
• Electronegativity: 2.33 (Pauling); 1.55 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 4.799kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

  Strong oxidizers, hydrogen peroxide, acids

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 7.416
  • Second: 15.028
  • Third: 31.943
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 24.2

Physical Properties of Lead

• Atomic Mass Average: 207.2
• Boiling Point: 2013K 1740°C 3164°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 29.1E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.0481 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.353 W/cmK

• Density: 11.35g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  A very soft bluish-white metal that tarnishes in moist air.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 46/GPa
  • Rigidity: 5.6/GPa
  • Youngs: 16/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 194.6 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 4.77 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 179.4 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Non-combustible solid (except as dust)
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 38.3 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 1.5
• Heat of Vaporization: 177.7kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 600.75K 327.6°C 621.7°F
  
• Molar Volume: 18.27 cm³/mole
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.13J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 4.21E-07Pa@327.6°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7439-92-1
• RTECS: OF7525000
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • TWA: 0.05 mg/m³
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • TWA: 0.05 mg/m³
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • TWA: 0.1 mg/m³
  • IDLH: 100 mg/m³
• Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  
• Target Organs: Eyes, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system, kidneys, blood, gingival tissue
  
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 0.21
  • Bone/p.p.m: 3.6-30
  • Liver/p.p.m: 3-12
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.23-3.3
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.06-0.5 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 120 mg (stored in skeleton)

Who / Where / When / How

• Discoverer: Known to ancient civilization
• Discovery Location: Unknown
• Discovery Year: Unknown
• Name Origin:

  Latin: plumbum; Anglo-Saxon: lead

• Abundance of Lead:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 14
  • Seawater/p.p.m.:
    • Atlantic Suface: 0.00003
    • Atlantic Deep: 0.000004
    • Pacific Surface: 0.00001
    • Pacific Deep: 0.000001
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 85.1
• Sources of Lead:

  Found most often in ores called galena. Also found in pyromorphite, boulangerite and cerussite ores. World wide production of lead is around 2,800,000 tons per year. Primary mining areas are in USA, Australia, Mexico, Germany and France.

• Uses of Lead:

  Used in solder, shielding against radiation, in batteries and ammunition. Still used in gasoline in some areas of the world, but this use is being phased out.

• Additional Notes:

  Lead is extremely toxic, but its effects are accumulative and most often develop after extended exposure. Lead affects the nervous system, causing mental retardation or other nervous disorders. It also affects other organs of the body. People suffering from lead poisoning may exhibit weakness, general disability, nervous disorders and eventual death. Children are most susceptable, partly because they have rapid motabolism and are small and partly because of their habits. They chew on things that might contain lead paint and play on floors and ground that might be contaminated, often putting their fingers in their mouth.

  A classic example of lead poisoning occurred in the early 1900's, but the cause of death was only recently determined. A large number of explorer families traveled to Alaska. The guide who escorted them contacted many different suppliers for provisions. He got a really good deal on canned food that he couldn't refuse. They set out on their journey and were never heard from again. Searchers never found any survivors. Years later someone decided to find out what happened. Bodies were found along with provisions. As it turned out, the cans had been sealed with lead solder. All of the human remains were wery high in lead content. They had, in fact, all died of lead poisoning.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Lead Menu

• Lead Page One
  • Overview of Lead
  • Lead's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Lead
  • Chemical Properties of Lead
  • Physical Properties of Lead
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Lead Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Lead Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Lead

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
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• Molarity, Molality and Normality
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• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Lead – Pb. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 11/20/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Pb.html
.