Lead (Pb)

Lead is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials, soft and malleable with a low melting point.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Lead has been smelted for thousands of years, and Roman water pipes of plumbum gave the element its symbol Pb and the word plumbing.
• The dense, soft metal resists corrosion and blocks radiation effectively, but it is a cumulative neurotoxin with no safe exposure level.
• Most lead today goes into lead-acid vehicle batteries, with radiation shielding another major use after its removal from gasoline and paint.

Specifications & Metrics

• NUM: 82
• SYMBOL: Pb
• CATEGORY: Post-transition Metal