Lead(II) sulfate (PbSO₄) is a white solid, which appears white in microcrystalline form. It is also known as ''fast white'', ''milk white'', ''sulfuric acid lead salt'' or ''anglesite''. It is often seen in the plates/electrodes of car batteries, as it is formed when the battery is discharged (when the battery is recharged, then the lead sulfate is transformed back to metallic lead and

sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphuric acid ( Commonwealth spelling), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol, is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen and hydrogen, with the molecular fo ...

on the negative terminal or

lead dioxide Lead(IV) oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula PbO2. It is an oxide where lead is in an oxidation state of +4. It is a dark-brown solid which is insoluble in water. It exists in two crystalline forms. It has several important applicatio ...

and sulfuric acid on the positive terminal). Lead sulfate is poorly

soluble In chemistry, solubility is the ability of a substance, the solute, to form a solution with another substance, the solvent. Insolubility is the opposite property, the inability of the solute to form such a solution. The extent of the solubi ...

in water.

Manufacturing

Lead(II) sulfate is prepared by treating lead oxide, hydroxide or carbonate with warm sulfuric acid or by treating a soluble lead salt with sulfuric acid. Alternatively, it can be made by the interaction of solutions of lead nitrate and sodium sulfate.

Toxicology

Lead sulfate is toxic by inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. It is a

cumulative poison Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost or eliminated ...

, and repeated exposure may lead to anemia, kidney damage, eyesight damage or damage to the central nervous system (especially in children). It is also corrosive - contact with the eyes can lead to severe irritation or burns. Typical threshold limit value is 0.15 mg/m³.

Mineral

The naturally occurring mineral

anglesite Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral with the chemical formula PbSO4. It occurs as an oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore, galena. Anglesite occurs as prismatic orthorhombic crystals and earthy masses, and is isomorphous with barite and ...

, PbSO₄, occurs as an oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore,

Basic and hydrogen lead sulfates

A number of lead basic sulfates are known: PbSO₄·PbO; PbSO₄·2PbO; PbSO₄·3PbO; PbSO₄·4PbO. They are used in manufacturing of active paste for lead–acid batteries. A related mineral is

leadhillite Leadhillite is a lead sulfate carbonate hydroxide mineral, often associated with anglesite. It has the formula Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2. Leadhillite crystallises in the monoclinic system, but develops pseudo-hexagonal forms due to crystal twinning. It ...

, 2PbCO₃·PbSO₄·Pb(OH)₂. At high concentration of sulfuric acid (>80%), lead hydrogensulfate, Pb(HSO₄)₂, forms.

Chemical properties

Lead(II) sulfate can be dissolved in concentrated HNO₃, HCl, H₂SO₄ producing acidic salts or complex compounds, and in concentrated alkali giving soluble tetrahydroxidoplumbate(II) b(OH)₄sup>2− complexes. : PbSO₄ + H₂SO₄ Pb(HSO₄)₂ : PbSO₄ + 4NaOH → Na₂ b(OH)₄+ Na₂SO₄ Lead(II) sulfate decomposes when heated above 1000 °C: : PbSO₄ → PbO + SO₃

Applications

* Lead-acid storage batteries *

Paint pigment A pigment is a colored material that is completely or nearly insoluble in water. In contrast, dyes are typically soluble, at least at some stage in their use. Generally dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic compou ...

s * Laboratory reagent

References

External links

Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM): Lead Toxicity

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lead(Ii) Sulfate Sulfates Lead(II) compounds