Lead(II) fluoride is the

inorganic compound An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bonds⁠that is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''. Inorgan ...

with the formula Pb F₂. It is a white solid. The compound is polymorphic, at ambient temperatures it exists in

orthorhombic In crystallography, the orthorhombic crystal system is one of the 7 crystal systems. Orthorhombic Lattice (group), lattices result from stretching a cubic crystal system, cubic lattice along two of its orthogonal pairs by two different factors, res ...

(PbCl₂ type) form, while at high temperatures it is

cubic Cubic may refer to: Science and mathematics * Cube (algebra), "cubic" measurement * Cube, a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets or sides, with three meeting at each vertex ** Cubic crystal system, a crystal system w ...

( Fluorite type).

Preparation

Lead(II) fluoride can be prepared by treating lead(II) hydroxide or lead(II) carbonate with

hydrofluoric acid Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF) in water. Solutions of HF are colorless, acidic and highly corrosive. A common concentration is 49% (48–52%) but there are also stronger solutions (e.g. 70%) and pure HF has a boiling p ...

: : Pb(OH)₂ + 2 HF → PbF₂ + 2 H₂O Alternatively, it is precipitated by adding hydrofluoric acid to a lead(II) salt solution, or by adding a fluoride salt to a lead salt, such as

potassium fluoride Potassium fluoride is the chemical compound with the formula KF. After hydrogen fluoride, KF is the primary source of the fluoride ion for applications in manufacturing and in chemistry. It is an alkali halide salt and occurs naturally as the ...

to a lead(II) nitrate solution, : 2 KF + Pb(NO₃)₂ → PbF₂ + 2 KNO₃ or

sodium fluoride Sodium fluoride (NaF) is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a colorless or white solid that is readily soluble in water. It is used in trace amounts in the fluoridation of drinking water to prevent tooth decay, and in toothpastes ...

to a lead(II) acetate solution. : 2 NaF + Pb(CH₃COO)₂ → PbF₂ + 2 NaCH₃COO It appears as the very rare mineral fluorocronite.

Uses

Lead(II) fluoride is used in low melting

glass Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline solid, non-crystalline) solid. Because it is often transparency and translucency, transparent and chemically inert, glass has found widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in window pane ...

es, in glass coatings to reflect

infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...

rays, in phosphors for television-tube screens, and as a catalyst for the manufacture of

picoline Picoline refers to any of three isomerism, isomers of methylpyridine (CH3C5H4N). They are all colorless liquids with a characteristic smell similar to that of pyridine. They are miscible with water and most organic solvents. Isomers The CAS reg ...

. The Muon g−2 experiment uses crystals in conjunction with silicon

photomultiplier A photomultiplier is a device that converts incident photons into an electrical signal. Kinds of photomultiplier include: * Photomultiplier tube, a vacuum tube converting incident photons into an electric signal. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs for sh ...

s. High energy charged particles create Cerenkov light as they pass through the crystals, which is measured by the silicon photomultipliers. It also serves as an

oxygen scavenger Oxygen scavengers or oxygen absorbers are added to enclosed packaging to help remove or decrease the level of oxygen in the package. They are used to help maintain product safety and extend shelf life. There are many types of oxygen absorbers ...

in high-temperature fluorine chemistry, as plumbous oxide is relatively volatile.

References

{{fluorine compounds Fluorides Lead(II) compounds Metal halides Phosphors and scintillators Reagents for organic chemistry Glass compositions Fluorite crystal structure