Lead (Pb)
The Latin name for lead, plumbum, gave us the word 'plumbing' — Romans used lead water pipes.
Lead properties
- Atomic mass
- 207.2 u
- Category
- Post-transition metal
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 6
- Block
- p-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 2.33
- Melting point
- 600.61 K (327.5 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2,022 K (1,748.8 °C)
- Density
- 11.34 g/cm³
- Common charges
- +2, +4
- Oxidation states
- +4, +2
- Atomic radius
- 202 pm
- Ionization energy
- 7.417 eV
- Electron affinity
- 0.36 eV
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- Ancient
Lead electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p2
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 18 · 4
The electron configuration of Lead (Pb) is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2. Its 82 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Lead
A neutral Lead atom has 82 protons and 82 electrons. Most Lead atoms have about 125 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 207, minus the atomic number 82.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Lead have?
4
Lead has 4 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 6. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Lead orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Lead
207.2 g/mol
One mole of Lead atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 207.2 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Compounds containing Lead
Lead facts
- The Latin name for lead, plumbum, gave us the word 'plumbing' — Romans used lead water pipes.
- Lead (Pb) has atomic number 82 and is a solid at room temperature. It has been known since ancient times.
Position in the periodic table
Lead is element 82, in period 6 and group 14 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Lead
Lead is used mainly in lead-acid batteries, which start most cars and provide backup power, and batteries account for most of the lead used today. Its high density makes it an effective shield against X-rays and gamma rays in hospitals and nuclear facilities. Lead is also used in cable sheathing, roof flashing, ammunition and weights, although its toxicity has ended its use in gasoline, house paint and water pipes.
Who discovered Lead?
Lead has been known since prehistoric times, so its discoverer is unknown. It is easy to smelt from its main ore, galena, and people were making lead objects several thousand years ago.
Where does the name come from?
Lead comes from the Old English lead, a word related to the Dutch lood. Its symbol, Pb, comes from the Latin plumbum, which also gives us the words plumbing and plumber, since Roman water pipes were made of lead.
Same group
Compare Lead
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Lead?
The electron configuration of Lead (Pb) is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2. Its 82 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Lead have?
A neutral Lead atom has 82 protons and 82 electrons. Most Lead atoms have about 125 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 207, minus the atomic number 82.
How many valence electrons does Lead have?
Lead has 4 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 6. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Lead?
The molar mass of Lead is 207.2 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 207.2 u.
Is Lead a metal?
Yes. Lead is a post-transition metal, so it is a metal.
Is Lead radioactive?
Ordinary Lead is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Lead on the periodic table?
Lead is element 82, in period 6 and group 14 of the periodic table, in the p-block.