piombo

Piombo, or lead, is the chemical element with symbol Pb and atomic number 82. It is a dense, soft, malleable metal. In its pure form it is bluish-white when freshly cut but quickly tarnishes to a dull gray. Lead has a density of 11.34 g/cm3, a melting point of 327.5 °C, and a boiling point of 1749 °C. It is a relatively poor conductor of electricity compared with other metals but is used for shielding due to its high density.

Natural occurrence: lead is found mainly in ores such as galena (PbS). It is rarely found as native metal. It is obtained by mining and processing ore concentrates, followed by smelting and refining.

Applications: the largest use is in lead-acid batteries for vehicles and some stationary applications; it is also used in radiation shielding for medical and nuclear equipment, weights for ballast and balancing, and ammunition. Historically, it was used in pigments (lead white) and solders; the use in pipes and plumbing has declined due to toxicity.

Health and environment: lead is toxic to many organ systems; exposure can cause neurodevelopmental harm in children and various disorders in adults. Regulations limit lead in paints, gasoline, pipes, and consumer products. Environmental sources include legacy deposits from smelting and use in batteries. Safe handling, containment and recycling are important.

Isotopes: several stable isotopes exist; lead has four natural isotopes (204, 206, 207, 208) used in radiometric dating to study geological and archaeometallurgical problems. In Italian, the element is called piombo.