Element #82

Lead

post transition solid Known since antiquity

207.2 Atomic Mass (u)

327.46 C Melting Point

1749 C Boiling Point

11.342 g/cm3 Density

2.33 Electronegativity

[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 Electron Config

6 Period

14 Group

📖 About Lead

A heavy, soft, malleable metal that has been used since antiquity. Lead's density and ability to block radiation makes it essential in X-ray shielding and nuclear facilities. However, lead is highly toxic and accumulates in the body, causing neurological damage especially in children. Leaded gasoline and paint, once universal, caused significant public health damage.

🔧 Uses and Applications

Radiation shielding (X-ray rooms, nuclear plants)
Lead-acid batteries (cars)
Ammunition and fishing weights
Soldering (being replaced by lead-free solder)
Cable sheathing

💡 Did You Know?

Fact: Some historians argue that lead poisoning contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. Romans used lead pipes for plumbing (the word "plumbing" comes from plumbum, Latin for lead), lined cooking vessels with lead acetate as a sweetener, and used lead in wine production.