Is Lead Good Or Bad

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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

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