Lead(II) carbonate is the chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is a white, toxic solid. It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite.Inorganic Chemistry, Egon Wiberg, Arnold Frederick Holleman Elsevier 2001
Structure Like all metal carbonates, lead(II) carbonate adopts a dense, highly crosslinked structure consisting of intact and metal cation sites. As verified by X-ray crystallography, the Pb(II) centers are seven-coordinate, being surrounded by multiple carbonate ligands. The carbonate centers are bonded bidentate to a single Pb and bridge to five other Pb sites.
Production and use Lead carbonate is manufactured by passing carbon dioxide into a cold dilute solution of lead(II) acetate, or by shaking a suspension of a lead salt more soluble than the carbonate with ammonium carbonate at a low temperature to avoid formation of basic lead carbonate.
Lead carbonate is used as a catalyst to polymerize formaldehyde to poly(oxymethylene). It improves the bonding of chloroprene to wire.
Regulations The supply and use of this compound is restricted in Europe.
Other lead carbonates A number of lead carbonates are known: White lead, a basic lead carbonate, Shannonite, Plumbonacrite,
Abellaite, Leadhillite,
References
External links International Chemical Safety Card 0999