Brandon German

Lead
I. Discovery
A. We know God is the Creator of everything on Earth yet there was not a specific person
who discovered the metal Lead. Lead was one of the earliest metals used by the human race and
was in use by 3000 B.C.
B. In ancient times Lead was originally named by the Latin word Plumbum refering back
to when Lead was popular in the construction of water pipes. Because of the low melting point of
Lead the Romans found it easy to construct things with the metal.
II. Uses
A. This metal has been used for water pipes and paints that contained Lead in Roman
times. These uses have now been banned or replaced due to the fact that Lead is dangerous for
our health.
B. Although Lead is dangerous it is still widely used today and can be found in car
batteries and ammunition for weapons. It is also commonly used to store corrosive
liquids such as sulfuric acid used in car batteries. People used Lead to store corrosive
liquids because it is one of the most stable metals and acids would not be able to eat
through the metal.
C. Pencils DO NOT contain Lead. They are made up of graphite and not Lead.
III. Sources
A. Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. The
metal can be found in all parts of our environment such as the air, the soil, water, and even in our
homes.
B. Lead can be found in drinking water but it doesn’t naturally form in water, it can be
present from the use of lead pipes or a contaminated water source. Lead is also present
in the air from automobile emissions.
C. Lead can be extracted chiefly from a mineral called galena and can be found in an ore
that also contains zinc, silver, and copper.
IV. Properties
1. Color: The Lead element has a silver and a hint of a deep bluish color to it.
2. Luster: This metal has a metallic luster the mineral Lead cannot be easily confused for
any other mineral on Earth.
3. Hardness: On the Mohs Scale, Lead is a 1.5 meaning it is quite soft and can scratched
by a fingernail.
 4. Malleability: This element is very malleable meaning it can be shaped or bent.
5. Density: The Lead element has a density of 11.34 g/cm cubed

6. Melting Point: The melting point of this metal is approximately 328°C or 622°F.

7. Crystalline Structure: The crystalline structure of Lead is face-centered cubic

structure.
8. Flammability: Lead is not particularly flammable and it's not very reactive which
means it does not react to oxygen in normal situations and that is necessary for it to catch on fire.
9. Toxicity: Lead is a highly toxic metal and it can damage every organ in the human body.
It's so toxic high levels of lead exposure can cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain
damage. Very high lead exposure can lead to death. When lead poisoning is in the human body it
takes the place of the metals that are good for you such as iron or calcium.
10. Reactivity with water: The surface of metallic lead is covered by a thin layer of lead
oxide. This causes it to have no reaction with water.
11. Corrosion: This metal wont damage any surface because it's just a metal but that can
change when it comes in contact with specific acids.