Element identity
Atomic number, symbol, relative atomic mass display and periodic position are established reference data.
Atomic / electronic model
Ground-state electron configuration and atomic reference values are compiled/evaluated data; orbital graphics are teaching probability models, not photographs.
Material / molecular structure
The displayed ordinary structure is based on established material or molecular science; simplified viewers are labelled as teaching schematics where exact crystallographic coordinates are not rendered.
Temperature / phase path
Transition values are reference/evaluated values for the stated teaching path; pressure, purity and allotropy can matter.
Geography
Real pins use reviewed place/dataset context. Conceptual layers are used when country pins would imply false occurrence, unsafe inventory or an incomplete global distribution.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Lead (Pb)
Lead is element 82, a dense Group 14 metal whose chemistry, batteries, radiation shielding, recycling and health hazards all matter to a complete explanation. Modern use requires separating the elemental metal from lead compounds and from historical exposures.
Lead atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Lead: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does lead have?
Lead’s atomic number is 82, so every lead atom has 82 protons, and a neutral atom also has 82 electrons. Its most common natural isotope, lead-208, has 126 neutrons (other isotopes have different neutron counts).
What is the symbol for lead?
The chemical symbol for lead is Pb.
Is lead a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Lead is a solid at room temperature (about 25 °C).
What family (group) is lead in?
Lead is a post-transition metal, in group 14, period 6 of the periodic table.
How many valence electrons does lead have?
Lead has 4 valence electrons, the electrons in its outer shell, which matches its position in group 14.
What is the electron configuration of lead?
The ground-state electron configuration of lead is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p².
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
Eighty-two protons define lead.
Four outer-shell electrons frame Group 14 chemistry.
Lead lies below tin.
Lead isotope patterns include radiogenic contributions from uranium/thorium decay.
Lead is a notably dense metal.
Lead in its period and family
Lead is in Group 14, Period 6 below tin. Relativistic and inert-pair effects help make the +2 oxidation state especially important compared with the simple four-valence-electron picture.
Lead Visual Lab
Decode lead’s tile, rotate a ²⁰⁸Pb teaching nucleus and FCC cell, inspect occupied 6s and 6p probability models, and connect lead to batteries, shielding, recycling, galena and evidence-based health context.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Lead in one minute
Atomic number 82 means every lead nucleus contains 82 protons.
Neutral lead has the ground-state configuration [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p².
Pb²⁺ is especially important in lead chemistry; +4 also occurs.
Lead metal is dense and face-centred cubic near room temperature.
Lead exposure is toxic; historical uses do not imply that lead is safe for unrestricted handling or consumer contact.
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 32 · 18 · 4 electrons
The 6s model is spherical and the 6p model has the familiar two-lobed p angular form in a nonrelativistic teaching approximation. These isolated-atom clouds do not show metallic bands or relativistic many-electron detail.
Lead is face-centred cubic near room temperature. The viewer shows a conventional cubic cell with corner and face-centre sites and does not imply an isolated eight-plus-six atom molecule.. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The 6s model is spherical and the 6p model has the familiar two-lobed p angular form in a nonrelativistic teaching approximation. These isolated-atom clouds do not show metallic bands or relativistic many-electron detail.
Where do I meet lead?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Lead-acid batteries
Lead and lead compounds participate in the reversible electrochemistry of lead-acid batteries, a mature technology with established recycling systems.
Useful dense metal, closed-loop battery material, serious toxicant
Lead’s page needs to show material function and health consequence together.
Dense FCC lead
Elemental lead is a soft, dense metal used where density, formability or electrochemistry matter.
Germanium, tin and lead: heavier Group 14 chemistry
Down Group 14, metallic character grows and the inert-pair effect increasingly favors lower oxidation states.
| Valence | 4s² 4p² |
|---|---|
| Context | semiconductor / metalloid |
| Valence | 5s² 5p² |
|---|---|
| Oxidation | +2, +4 |
| Valence | 6s² 6p² |
|---|---|
| Density | 11.3 g/cm³ |
| Common | Pb(II) especially important |
Lead properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 82 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | 207.2 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p² | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Group / period / block | Group 14 · Period 6 · p-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | 2.33 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Reference isotope | ²⁰⁸Pb | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State context | Dense bluish-grey solid at 20 °C | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Density | 11.3 g/cm³ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Material / molecular structure | Lead metal · face-centred cubic | Lead is face-centred cubic near room temperature. The viewer shows a conventional cubic cell with corner and face-centre sites and does not imply an isolated eight-plus-six atom molecule. | Measured |
| Classification | Post-transition metal | Periodic-table / chemistry classification | Evaluated |
| Structure-model scope | Lead is face-centred cubic near room temperature. The viewer shows a conventional cubic cell with corner and face-centre sites and does not imply an isolated eight-plus-six atom molecule. | Teaching visualization; exact crystallographic coordinates are not implied unless stated. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting / transition reference | 600.612 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Boiling / gas reference | 2022 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Phase-path context | At approximately standard pressure, lead is solid below about 600.612 K, liquid up to about 2022 K, and gaseous above the boiling reference. | Shared phase registry drives the slider, regions and markers. | Evaluated |
| Condition warning | Temperature and pressure define phase behavior; purity/allotropy may matter. | Teaching condition statement | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary electrical behavior | Metallic conductor | Qualitative bulk behavior; exact resistivity depends on temperature, purity and alloy state. | Measured |
| Conduction model | Collective solid-state electrons | Do not interpret isolated-atom orbital clouds as literal current paths. | Reviewed |
| Surface / compound caveat | Oxides, salts and alloys can behave differently from the pure metal | Material context | Reviewed |
| Engineering values | Condition-dependent | Use condition-specific materials data for engineering calculations. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common oxidation states | +2 and +4 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ion / common ion context | Pb²⁺ / Pb⁴⁺ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Periodic chemistry context | Lead is in Group 14, Period 6 below tin. Relativistic and inert-pair effects help make the +2 oxidation state especially important compared with the simple four-valence-electron picture. | Element-specific interpretation | Reviewed |
| Chemistry caution | Elemental form, ions and compounds are distinct chemical objects. | Interpretive teaching rule | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ²⁰⁸Pb | Stable · most abundant natural isotope | A doubly magic nucleus and the reference teaching nucleus on this page. | Evaluated |
| ²⁰⁶Pb | Stable · radiogenic + primordial | One of the major natural lead isotopes and an end product in uranium decay chains. | Evaluated |
| ²⁰⁷Pb | Stable · radiogenic + primordial | A major natural isotope and an end product in the uranium-235 decay chain. | Evaluated |
| ²⁰⁴Pb | Stable · minor natural isotope | The least abundant of the four stable natural lead isotopes. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ²⁰⁸Pb · 82 protons + 126 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
Is Lead a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
At approximately standard pressure, lead is solid below about 600.612 K, liquid up to about 2022 K, and gaseous above the boiling reference.
Where on Earth is Lead found or produced?
Who discovered Lead, and when?
Lead’s low melting point and malleability made it easy to work, leading to extensive historical use.
Lead entered pipes, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing and many other products.
Evidence of health harm drove major restrictions on lead in fuels, paints and consumer exposure pathways.
Lead-acid batteries remain a major use while recycling and exposure control are central parts of modern lead management.
From galena to lead products: a high-level materials path
Lead ores are mined and mineral processing concentrates lead-bearing minerals such as galena.
Industrial smelting and refining convert concentrates into lead metal under controlled conditions; this page does not provide process-operation instructions.
Lead is fabricated into battery grids, shielding and other controlled applications.
Collection and recycling, especially of lead-acid batteries, can return lead to production while reducing uncontrolled waste.
What is lead used for?
Lead-acid batteries
Lead-based electrodes support a robust rechargeable battery chemistry used in vehicles and backup systems.
Shielding
Dense lead can attenuate X-rays and gamma rays when used in engineered shielding systems.
Weights & specialized alloys
Lead’s density and low melting point support some specialized industrial uses subject to regulation.
Recycling feed
Used lead-acid batteries are an important secondary resource in regulated recycling systems.
Lead isotopes and natural abundance
²⁰⁸Pb
Stable · most abundant natural isotopeA doubly magic nucleus and the reference teaching nucleus on this page.
²⁰⁶Pb
Stable · radiogenic + primordialOne of the major natural lead isotopes and an end product in uranium decay chains.
²⁰⁷Pb
Stable · radiogenic + primordialA major natural isotope and an end product in the uranium-235 decay chain.
²⁰⁴Pb
Stable · minor natural isotopeThe least abundant of the four stable natural lead isotopes.
Five-question Lead check
What is lead’s symbol?
What is lead’s atomic number?
What is the common room-temperature crystal structure of lead metal?
Which oxidation state is especially common for lead?
Which statement is correct?
Lead questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
What is lead’s element symbol?
Short answer: Lead’s symbol is Pb, from the Latin plumbum.
The symbol Pb is the standardized chemical abbreviation for element 82. In a chemical formula, Pb identifies lead atoms; a compound containing Pb is not automatically the same material as elemental lead.
Key point: Pb always identifies element 82.
What is lead’s atomic number?
Short answer: Lead is atomic number 82.
Atomic number is defined by proton count, so 82 protons are what make an atom lead. A neutral lead atom also has 82 electrons, while isotopes can have different neutron counts without changing the element.
Key point: Atomic number = proton count.
Is lead a metal?
Short answer: Yes. Lead is a dense post-transition metal in Group 14.
This guide classifies Lead as a post-transition metal. Its periodic position is Period 6, p-block, Group 14. Lead is in Group 14, Period 6 below tin. Relativistic and inert-pair effects help make the +2 oxidation state especially important compared with the simple four-valence-electron picture.
Key point: Periodic-table classification describes recurring atomic/chemical behavior; it does not make every element in a column physically identical.
What is lead used for today?
Short answer: A major use is lead-acid batteries; lead is also used in engineered shielding and selected industrial applications.
Lead-acid batteries: Lead-based electrodes support a robust rechargeable battery chemistry used in vehicles and backup systems. Shielding: Dense lead can attenuate X-rays and gamma rays when used in engineered shielding systems. Lead’s high density and useful electrochemistry helped make it important in batteries and shielding, but the same element has serious toxicological consequences. A useful page must teach both material function and exposure context.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
Why is Pb²⁺ common?
Short answer: The 6s² electron pair is relatively inert, so losing the two 6p electrons to form +2 is often favorable in lead chemistry.
Lead is in Group 14, Period 6 below tin. Relativistic and inert-pair effects help make the +2 oxidation state especially important compared with the simple four-valence-electron picture. Pb²⁺ is especially important in lead chemistry; +4 also occurs.
Key point: The mechanism matters: connect the observed behavior to electron structure, bonding, phase or the specific material form rather than memorizing the result alone.
Why is lead toxic?
Short answer: Lead can interfere with multiple biological systems, including the nervous system, blood-forming enzymes and kidneys; children are especially vulnerable, and public-health agencies state that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified.
Lead toxicity is chemical, not radioactive. Pb²⁺ can bind to biological sites normally used by essential metal ions and disrupt enzymes and signaling. Risk depends on dose, exposure route and bioavailability: inhaled or ingested lead-containing dust and compounds are different exposure situations from a sealed, inaccessible object, but “solid metal” is not a reason to ignore contamination controls.
Key point: Lead toxicity comes from bioavailable lead chemistry; exposure route and chemical form matter.
Scientific sources for Lead
- Royal Society of Chemistry - Lead
- NIST - Atomic Data for Lead
- USGS - Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
- CDC - Lead exposure information
- CDC — About Lead in the Workplace
- CDC — Lead exposure and children
Questions to ask next about Lead
A good element lesson should lead to the next useful question, not end after a list of facts.
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