Monday, February 21, 2011

Fun Facts

  • Heaviest member of the carbon family (group 14 on periodic table)
  • Lead is one of few that has been known for years to ancient peoples.  Oldest example of lead is a small statue in Egypt.  3400 BC, mentioning of lead objects, lead is in passages of bible many times.
  • Heavy, soft, gray solid
  • Lead rarely occurs as a pure element on earth
  • Common ores: Lead sulfide (PbS), Lead Sulfate (PbSO4) Lead Carbonate (PbCO3)
  • Largest producers of lead: Australia, China, US, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Sweden
  • In the US, more than 93% of lead produced comes from Missouri
  • Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air.
  • People in the Elizabethan Era (1558-1608) often used the white powder from lead as make up on their faces

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