It is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air.
Lead belongs to group 14 of the periodic table, which also includes C, Si, Ge and Sn. Lead has the most metallic characteristics of this group. The element has an atomic number of 82, an atomic mass of 207, two oxidation states (+2 and +4) and four naturally occurring isotopes (204Pb, 206Pb, 207Pb and 208Pb), of which 208Pb is the most abundant at 52% of the total mass.
The major use of lead today is for batteries. Lead also is used as a protective shield against radiation. One lead mineral that was historically used as a nat-ural dye is chrome yellow, which is toxic.
Lead is a heavy metal with a high toxicity. Lead is toxic at very low exposure levels and has acute and chronic effects on health and the environment. It can effect the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the heart and blood system. Minerals containing lead are toxic to many tissues and organs, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, brain, and reproductive system. Also, lead ions inhibit enzymes neces-sary for the synthesis of hemoglobin (the oxygen car-rier in human blood). Lead poisoning causes mental retardation and neurological disorders.
Chemical
element: Lead
