Extraction of Lead

LEAD

Lead (symbol is Pb) is a heavy but soft metal, it is reactive with oxygen, which makes the lead look dull. Lead is not a very good conductor of heat, sound or electricity. Lead is found in the Earth's crust and is most commonly a compound of:

• galena (lead sulfide - symbol PbS);
• anglesite (lead sulfate - symbol PbSO4);
• cerassite (lead carbonate - symbol PbCO3);
• mimetite.

Lead can be easily cut, bent and worked to make different shapes. Leads melting point in 621.3 degrees Fahrenheit or 327.4 degrees Celsius and has a boiling point of 3180 degrees Fahrenheit or 1749 degrees Celsius.

Lead is extracted from its ores (ores are rocks that contain metals naturally) this is done by converting the ores to lead oxide and then heating the alloys (alloys is lead mixed with another element) with charcoal. This does not produce pure lead but can be refined further electrolytically. Alloys are harder than pure metals because the different sized atoms distort the normal arrangement of atoms, which makes the layers more difficult to slide over each other.

There are many sources of lead, some more commonly known such as paint, batteries and radiators but also some less commonly known such as children's toys and jewellery (especially the inexpensive children's jewellery sold in vending machines) and imported food.

Bibliography
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa_pre_2011/rockd/metalsrev7.shtml
http://www.enotes.com/lead-reference/lead-177335
http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/sources.htm

By Amy Spencer