Lead (symbol Pb, atomic number 82) is a dense, soft metal long used in pipes and paint before its toxicity was understood. It is classified as a post-transition metal and sits in group 14, period 6 of the periodic table.
Overview
Lead is the chemical element with atomic number 82 and the symbol Pb. With a standard atomic weight of 207.2, it is a post-transition metal. In the periodic table it occupies group 14 and period 6, and under standard conditions it is normally a solid. Lead is a dense, soft metal long used in pipes and paint before its toxicity was understood.
Atomic structure
An atom of Lead has 82 protons in its nucleus and, when neutral, 82 electrons arranged in the configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2. Its standard atomic weight of 207.2 reflects the natural mix of its stable isotopes.
Discovery and place in the table
Lead has been known since antiquity. It follows Thallium (Tl) and precedes Bismuth (Bi) in order of atomic number.
| Atomic number | 82 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Pb |
| Atomic mass | 207.2 |
| Category | Post-transition metal |
| Group | 14 |
| Period | 6 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p2 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Discovered | Antiquity |