Lead (Pb)
Lead is a dense, toxic metal that has been used for thousands of years in pipes, paint, and batteries.
Properties of Lead
- Atomic number
- 82
- Category
- Post-Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 207.2 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
- Melting point
- 600.61 K (327.46 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2022 K (1748.85 °C)
- Density
- 11.342 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.87
- Appearance
- Bluish-gray metal
- Discovered by
- Ancient civilizations
Facts about Lead
- Ancient Romans used lead pipes for plumbing — the word "plumbing" comes from "plumbum," Latin for lead!
- Lead's symbol Pb comes from its Latin name "plumbum"!
- Lead is so dense it's used to block radiation in X-ray rooms!
- Lead-acid batteries power most cars to this day!