| Origin of Name |
From the Greek word protos,
meaning first
The symbol came from the Latin word plumbum, meaning lead |
| Date and Place of Discovery |
Known to the ancients |
| Discovered by |
Unknown |
| Common Compounds |
|
| Interesting facts |
- It does not occur in nature in
large amounts.
- It is usually found in zinc,
silver and copper ores.
- Galena contains about 86.6% of
lead.
- The greatest source of lead
today is in recycling automobile batteries.
- It is a soft, heavy, toxic metal
that is malleable.
- It is bluish white when cut but
as it is exposed to the air it turns a dull gray.
- It has the highest atomic number
of all the stable elements.
- It is a
neurotoxin
that accumulates in soft tissues and bone.
- It is not a good conductor of
electricity.
|
| Common Uses |
- Batteries
- Bullets
- Solder, especially for
electronics
- Pewter
- Ceramic glaze coloring
- Fishing sinkers
- Radiation shield
- Coolant for reactors
- Organ pipes
- Electrolysis
- High voltage power cables
- Ballast keel of sailboats
- Roofing materials
- Scuba diving weight belts
|
