Atomic number 82
Lead
Post-transition metal
In the real world
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 207.20
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 6
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.87
- Common ox. states
- +2, +4
Properties
Electron configuration
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²
- Ionization energy
- 715.6 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 35.1 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 600.61 K (327.5 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2022.00 K (1748.8 °C)
How dangerous is it?
3/5 · Hazardous
Not a fast poison but a slow one. Lead builds up in the body over months and years, which is why it was taken out of paint and gas.
- ToxicBuilds up over time
Repeated small exposures add up and harm the brain, blood, and kidneys, especially in kids.
Anyone working with it avoids the dust and fumes, washes up afterward, and keeps it away from food and water.
How it bonds
Lead shows the "inert pair effect" strongly: +2 (Pb²⁺) is the dominant state, with +4 only in oxidizing conditions (PbO₂ in car batteries). Soft, dense, and toxic - Pb²⁺ also sneaks into calcium binding sites, especially in the developing brain.
