Properties of Lead

Properties of Lead:

Physical properties:

1. The lead is a bluish grey metal with a bright gleam.
2. It is soft and can be slice with a knife and drawn into a wire and rolled into sheet.
3. It is not a good conductor of electricity and heat.
4. It marks on paper.

Chemical properties:

1. Action of air:

i) It is not affected by dry air however in moist air a layer of lead carbonate or lead hydroxide is deposited on its surface that protects it from additional action of air.

ii) Whenever heated in air or oxygen, lead is oxidized to litharge (i.e., PbO) and red lead (i.e., Pb3O4)

2Pb + O2 → 2PbO
3Pb + 2O2
Pb3O4

2. Action of water:

Lead is not attacked by pure water in the deficiency of air; however water having dissolved air has a solvent action on it due to the formation of lead hydroxide (i.e., a poisonous substance). This phenomenon is termed as Plumbo solvency.

2Pb + O2 + 2H2O   2Pb (OH)2

3. Action of acids:

i) Dilute H2SO4 and HCl encompass no action on lead.

ii) Hot Conc. H2SO4 releases SO2 however the reaction is retarded by the formation of an insoluble layer of lead sulphate.

Pb + 2H2SO4 PbSO4 + 2H2O + SO2

iii) Concentrated HCl develops hydrogen and also forms Chloroplumbic acid

Pb + 2HCl PbCl2+H2
PbCl2+ 2HCl ↔ H2PbCl4

                     chloroplumbic acid

Uses: Lead is used:

1. For manufacturing lead pipes,

2. For constructing telegraph and telephone wires,

3. In the production of bullets and lead accumulators,

4. In lead chambers, for the making of sulphuric acid,

5. For manufacturing alloys such as solder, pewter and type metal,

6. For making tetraethyl lead (Pb(C2H5)4) that is employed as an additive to petrol to prevent the knocking.

 

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