We all know an element with an atomic number of 82 on our periodic table; it’s more than that humans used this; metal over a long period. (7000BC). It has a lot of uses for us. Back in time, the Roman empire used leads for water pipes. In ancient Egypt, people used Lead for beauty (darkening their eyelids); due to technology and education, people came up with other uses also improve old ones. Every continent mine lead except Antarctica. Lead is important when it comes to an industrialized economy. From small electronics (watches) to train do have lead metal.
Uses of lead metal. (PB 82)
1. Corrosion resistance.
For over a long period, we have been using Lead for water pipes because they can prevent environmental deterioration caused by electrochemical reactions or chemicals within the surrounding. Some alloy does have lead metal because of high corrosion resistance. It has been researched to see its strength and weakness on land and sea. Statistics show leads do last long before it starts to rust.
2. Sleek and smooth car bodies.
In-car industries lead has a lot of uses, and one of them is to feel car dents, making it sleek. It was used as a body filler, but it turns out we have a problem with Lead. Health hazards and all those so they are using plastic fillers nowadays. Also, there is a lead-free body too totally cool in making car bodies. It gives quality work. It is said you can grind it with no worries of raising lead particles that one can breathe.
3. Paints.
Paints do contain Lead either used to paint houses, bridges, or many more. The lead-in paint is used to accelerate drying after painting, maintaining the cool display over a long period. In some countries, Lead in house paint was banned, but it’s still used in many places all over the world.
4. Joints in the cast-iron pipe.
It’s not likely to be noticed when they are around, but Lead is a joint element used in iron piping.
5. Car batteries.
Lead ingots are used to manufacture accumulators like car batteries. In-car batteries will have plates made of Lead. The lead storage batteries do store a lot of charges and can distribute them over a short period. Lead is used because they are cheap compared to lithium; also, they are easy to manufacture. The Lead is durable and does last for over a long time.
6. Soldering.
As we all know, solder is a fusible alloy that is used to join fusible wires in electronics like radios, tv, and many others. Most of the time, we use lead to attach components to the circuit board. But now we have Lead free solder that does not produce Lead dust.
7. Protective shield.
Lead has a high density, and therefore it has a vast number of electrons. It’s well suited to scatter gamma rays and x-rays. We use Lead as a shield so that we can protect human DNA because the radiation will be absorbed by its electrons, and they will scatter its energy.
8. Lead oxides.
Lead oxide is formed during the oxidation process. Oxidation is the process of heating metals in the presence of oxygen. Lead oxide has a low electrical conductor hence useful for semi-conductors and photoconduction material. They are a lot of uses with lead oxide; you can check it out.
9. Alloys.
Lead metal is used in alloys as an element in copper and steel alloys. In alloys, it increases their properties to enhance effective machinability. It’s also used in fire sprinklers many others.
10. Cosmetics.
99% of cosmetic products used contain leads, Lead is a naturally occurring element, iron oxide is a brown-colored pigment they are sometimes found in the products. There will be traces of Lead in the product.
11. Antifriction metal.
Lead is a soft metal with a low melting point, making it perfect for anti-friction metal. Antifriction metals are used to make bearings; mostly, the bearing supports the point where the load is transmitted with no moving parts. The idea is old, and some people came up with good ideas. But still, Lead was perfect for this work as the friction contained within it.
12. Ammunition.
Lead has a high density, so people use this property to make bullets where it provides high mass, and that is kinetic energy for the given volume.
13. Roofing.
Lead does have a low melting point, and it’s malleable. Lead can be molded into any shape, and at the same time, it cannot corrode easily. This makes it ideal for roofing metal.
14. Used for weights.
Lead has a high density compared to its size; that’s why it is used to make weights like anchors, dumbbells, fishing sinkers. It’s not expensive compared to other metals that can do the same job as Lead metal. NOTE lead fumes and dust are poisonous, so do not use them without taking precautions.
15. Tetraethyl.
In 1996 lead fuel was banned, but still, you can use it in some places and some engines. Lead in gasoline can be used off-road, racing vehicles, farm engines, marine, and many others. Tetraethyl lead is used to reduce engine knocking, boost the rating of octane, and reduce the wearing and tearing of valve seats.
There are many other uses of leads that are useful to us today, like cable sheathing, miscellaneous, ceramic glazes, explosives, smelters, pesticides, petrol, explosives, and cigarettes.
Before using Lead remember it’s not ok to breathe in lead dust. That’s why uses of Lead have been banned from being used in paint and gasoline. Lead types of gasoline are still used in off-road cars. It has its disadvantages and advantages, and recently disadvantages have been a lot, and so people tried to come up with lead-free metal. They don’t produce poisonous gas or dust. Do not use the lead pipe to move clean water or any liquid for consumption; over time, Lead does melt, and it will affect your health.