Atomic number 82
Lead
Post-transition metal
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 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.