Pb
Lead
Element 82 · Post-transition metal
Lead (Pb)
Lead is a soft, dense, bluish-grey metal. It shields against radiation but is a neurotoxin, especially for children.
- Post-transition metal
- Period 6
- Group 14
- p-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 207
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2
- Melting point
- 327.5 °C
- 600.61 K
- Boiling point
- 1,748.9 °C
- 2,022 K
- Density
- 11.342 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 2.33
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 202 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 7.417 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about lead
- 01
Romans used lead for water pipes and even as a sweetener in wine.
- 02
The isotope lead-208 has the heaviest nucleus of any stable atom.
- 03
Removing lead from petrol is linked to large drops in blood lead levels worldwide.
Applications
What is lead used for?
- Lead-acid car batteries
- Radiation shielding
- Ammunition
- Cable sheathing
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Year
c. 7000 BCE
Where
Known since antiquity
Name origin
Anglo-Saxon lead; the symbol Pb comes from Latin plumbum — the root of “plumbing”.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 82
- Atomic mass
- 207 u
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 6
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.33
- Electron affinity
- 0.36 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 202 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 4
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+4, +2).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st715.6
- 2nd1,450.5
- 3rd3,081.5
- 4th4,083
- 5th6,640
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 600.61 K · 327.5 °C · 621.4 °F
- Boiling point
- 2,022 K · 1,748.9 °C · 3,179.9 °F
- Density
- 11.342 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 26.65 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Metallic grey
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Lead questions
What is Pb on the periodic table?
Pb is the symbol for lead, element 82 on the periodic table. It sits in group 14, period 6, in the post-transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 207.
What is the atomic number of lead?
Lead has atomic number 82, so every lead atom has 82 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Pb and its atomic mass is 207.
Who discovered lead?
Lead has been known since antiquity (c. 7000 BCE); no single discoverer is credited. The name comes from Anglo-Saxon lead; the symbol Pb comes from Latin plumbum — the root of “plumbing”.
What is lead used for?
Lead is used for: lead-acid car batteries; radiation shielding; ammunition; cable sheathing.
Is lead a metal?
Yes. Lead is a post-transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of lead?
The electron configuration of lead is [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2. Its 82 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4.