LEAD CARBONATE

Lead carbonate is a chemical compound that has its own name, cerussite. It is an important ore. It is a poisonous compound. Its appearance is grayish-white. It is a crystalline mineral that is one of the primary types of lead ores. It effervesces in nitric acid and is not soluble in water or ethanol. It turns black in the presence of sulfur fumes and fluoresces yellow to golden. It occurs naturally.

Lead Carbonate, also known as White Lead, is a versatile and essential compound with a wide range of applications across various industries. Its chemical formula, PbCO3, belies its significance in industries ranging from paints and pigments to ceramics and even in certain medical applications. Let’s delve into the myriad uses and properties of Lead Carbonate.

In the realm of paints and pigments, Lead Carbonate has been historically significant. It serves as a key component in the formulation of lead-based paints, prized for their durability, opacity, and weather resistance. However, due to environmental and health concerns associated with lead toxicity, the use of lead-based paints has significantly declined in recent years, with many jurisdictions imposing strict regulations or outright bans on their use.

Despite this, Lead Carbonate still finds application in specialized coatings where its unique properties are indispensable. It is valued for its ability to impart high gloss and excellent hiding power, making it ideal for use in marine paints, industrial coatings, and certain artistic applications where performance outweighs environmental considerations.

Lead carbonate is a toxic chemical compound. It causes skin/eye irritation. Repeated contact causes dermatitis. Many lead compounds cause toxic effects in the blood-forming organs and central nervous system. It causes muscle pain and weakness. It causes respiratory tract irritation. Its contact with strong oxidants is chronic. This carbonate salt is stable under normal temperature and pressures. It is also incompatible with strong acids and strong oxidizing agents. On decomposition, it emits toxic fumes of lead oxide. Other combustion products include carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Its appearance is that of a dry powder with an orthorhombic crystal structure. It has a specific gravity of 6.6. It is not soluble in ammonia and alcohol. It is soluble in alkalis and acids. It has some applications given below:

• Lead carbonate works as a catalyst in some chemical reactions.
• It improves the bonding of polychloroprene to metals in wire-reinforced hoses,
• It is utilized in poly (vinyl chloride) friction liners for pulleys.
• It functions as a component of high-pressure lubricating greases, and as a coating on vinyl chloride polymers to improve their dielectric properties.
• It is used as a corrosion-resistant component.
• It serves as a coating on heat-sensitive sheets for thermographic copying.

Contact us for Details of SNDB Chemicals.