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Chemistry of lead
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Lead is a metallic element with the atomic number of 82 which makes it the 82nd element on the periodic table. The luster of this element is a bluish-white. This extremely soft type of metal is greatly malleable and is a poor conductor of electricity. Lead is very resistant to corrosion when exposed to air; however, it tends to tarnish upon air exposure. The relative atomic mass for lead is 207.2 g/m and it also has a standard state of solid at 298 K. Lead falls in group 14 on the periodic table and its period on the periodic table is 6. “Pure lead is almost never found in nature; rather, it is found bonded with other compounds. Its most common form as an ore is galena, which is lead sulfide, a gray metallic ore”. (Waskey, 2008). Lead was …show more content…
The metal and the dioxide of lead are used in many types of batteries. Lead used to be found in ammunition, but is no longer used in ammunition today because lead bullets actually burst upon contact instead of go through the intended target. Therefore, people struck by these bullets get lead poisoning and suffer rather than them dying from impact or giving them the chance to fully recover. In addition, lead bullets are harmful to the environment. Lead was also used for plumbing purposes; especially in the roman times. It is also used to contain hazardous liquids due to its resistance to corrosion. Lead used to be used for an insolation for cables. This element was a key ingredient in pesticides which means it was consumed by humans before they found the alternative ingredient. Lead was used in many alloys and is actually still used today. Solder is an alloy composed of tin and lead. Most alloys contain 60% tin and 40%; on the other hand, plumbing materials use more lead. Plumber’s solder consists of a 50/50 composition of lead and …show more content…
While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals causing of health effects” (EPA, 2014). Lead can also be found in all parts of our environment such as the air, the soil, the water, and even in our homes. The general public encounters lead in everyday resources such as fossil fuels, leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities, and lead-based paint. There is a wide variety of products that contains lead such as our homes, including paint, ceramics, pipes and plumbing materials, solders, gasoline, batteries, ammunition, and cosmetics. Lead is a hazardous element that is used in many goods. Most people should be aware of becoming infected with lead poisoning derived from everyday items like paint, water, and
In the article Industrial Urban Agriculture: The Potential and Challenges of Producing Food in Cities, Caroline Schneider talks about the challenges of growing local sustainable food. In the article she says, “Several contaminants can be found in urban soils, and lead is the most prevalent. (Schneider). ” This quote argues that although no chemicals are used, there is still potential danger in eating the food. But later she also says that you can fix that problem by simply cleaning the food. In the article it says, “Practices such as washing food well before eating and covering soils with mulch can help decrease these risks. (Schneider). ” This quote proves that as long as you take the proper steps to clean your food and help your soil, your food will be safe. Local Sustainable is safe and healthy for
This is why the Flint water crisis is so critical today. Because young children are being exposed to lead and they should actually be screened from the lead. The pipelines with lead in the water system and the whole community of Flint, not being able to drink water out of the facet as well as not being able to
Wagner, H. M. Recent Trends In Human Lead Exposure. New Horizons in Biological Dosimetry, 1991, pp. 179-186.
There is a debate that there is not actually one person who discovered cadmium. In the year 1817, a physician named Friedrich Stromeyer was one of the first ones who discovered cadmium. There were two more people named K.S.L. Hermann and J.C.H. Roloff that also discovered cadmium the same year. Cadmium is a naturally occurring metal. Cadmium was first discovered in vapors that came out of furnaces. It was found because zinc oxide was being roasted. Some of the early signs of it were in paints. People would want to make light colored paint darker so they would add cadmium, which would cause a brighter color. The pigments were primarily made from cadmium sulfide. Cadmium was also used for making leather gloves darker (Dartmouth, 2010). Cadmium toxicity is when a person eats food that has high levels, breathes in high levels, or drinks water with high levels of cadmium. Short-term or long-term exposer can be harmful...
Unfortunately, PCBs are hazardous to human and animal health, as well as to the environment. In studies published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the following health concerns are related to the ingestion of PCB's in people:
Exposure to lead primarily affects the respiratory or gastrointestinal. Inhalation results in 30% to 70% of absorption efficiency (Ziegler, Edwards, Jensen, Mahaffey, Fomon, 1978). Absorption through the gut depends on different factors such as nutritional status and age, it also includes the increase intake of the gastrointestine that occurs in children with age younger than 6 years old. Some substances can increase lead absorption in the body, these are ascorbic acid, low dietary zinc and also citric acid while calcium, iron, alcohol, magnesium and fat can weaken the absorption of lead. (Boffetta, Nyberg, 2003).
Due to an above average level of poverty, many homes in New Orleans had very high levels of lead and arsenic in them. (Pastor) This combined with eighty percent of the city being flooded, released significant amounts of lead and arsenic into the environment which still exist today. Soil samples taken before and after Katrina showed elevated levels of lead, iron and arsenic. (Reible)A new study on one-hundred and nine households found that sixty-one percent had lead measurements above federal standards with twenty-seven percent greater than one-thousand two hundred ppm which was significantly higher than the five-hundred and sixty ppm collected before Hurricane Katrina. (Rabito) These inorganic compounds are related to cancer risks of which New Orleans already has a significant problem with. This complicates the decision on when and where to conduct environmental clean-ups in New Orleans to remove the lead, iron and arsenic.
Neidig, H. A., and J. N. Spencer. "Precipitating Lead Chromate on a Small Scale." General Chemistry For Engineering And Science. Mason: Cengage Learning, 2012. 83-90. Print. Signature Lab Ser.
Many societies in the history of the world have undergone a period of development. Usually, an area goes from an underdeveloped region to a modern civilization. Outside influences are major contributors to a society's development. Their acceptance and appreciation of these foreign assets enhance their culture. Eventually developed societies can not cope with rapid changes. Their difficulty in changing leads to their demise. Nothing fails like success. Anthropologists have coined a term for such a situation. The Law of the Retarding Lead is when the most successful societies have problems in changing and retaining their lead in a period of transition. On the other hand, less successful societies benefit form this period of transition. They forge ahead and become a prominent society. The Law of the Retarding Lead is evident in a few societies. Its effects are staggering. The Law of the Retarding Lead affects each country in the same manner. Ultimately, this law can change an entire civilization.
Around 3000 BC , silver was mined from lead ores in Turkey and Greece, where it was used for jewelry and a form of money.16 Once taken from the earth, the lead ores were smelted to purify the silver and were heated to separate other metals from the silver. Today, the largest silver mines are located in Mexico, Guatemala, and Russia.17 These mines harvest ores with lead, copper, and zinc being major components and silver being a minor component. Silver is highly valued for its anti-bacterial properties, its highly reflective nature in photograph development, and in mirror and dental alloy production.
Huddie William Ledbetter also known as "Leadbelly" was an American folk singer and blues musical, most famous for his strong prominent vocals and his ability to play thetwelve-string guitar. Leadbellys astounding ability to play the guitar combined with his personal life experiences provided the foundation for his musical career. He also wrote about mainstream culture and black culture in general to express feelings of anger, sadness, and expose the wrongdoings of American society against blacks.
This naturally occurring metal element has an atomic number of 80, atomic weight 200.59, melting point of 234.32 K, boiling point of 629.88 K, density at 13.5336 grams per cubic centimeter, with symbol Hg. An element that is found in the earth’s crust and cannot be destroyed or created. This element is called Mercury. Mercury can be traced back to the ancient Chinese and Hindus and has been found in 3500 year old Egyptian tombs. According to Environmental Protection Agency, Mercury can be found in air, water, and soil (2014). Pure mercury is sometimes referred to as quicksilver, which is a liquid metal. Exposure to mercury or its compounds can cause Mercury Poisoning (also known as hydrargyria or mercurialism).
Lead is a lustrous, silvery metal that tarnishes in the presence of air and becomes a dull bluish gray. Soft and flexible, it has a low melting point (327 °C). Its chemical symbol, Pb, is from plumbum, the Latin word for waterworks, because of lead's extensive use in ancient water pipes. Itsatomic number is 82; its atomic weight is 207.19.