#82 / 118
82Pb207.2
Post-Transition Metalssolid at STPP-block

Lead

Group: 14•Period: 6•Standard Atomic Weight: 207.2 u
Open Full Periodic TableView Bohr Model

Why is Lead in this position?

Understanding the scientific rationale behind Lead's position in the periodic table:

Group Assignment
Group 14

Belongs to Group 14 because it has 4 valence electrons (6s² 6p²).

Period Assignment
Period 6

Belongs to Period 6 because its outermost electrons occupy n=6.

Orbital Block
P-block

Belongs to the p-block because its valence electrons occupy 6p orbitals.

Chemical Category
Post-Transition Metals

Classified as a post-transition metal whose chemistry is dominated by the inert pair +2 oxidation state.

Atomic Structure & Bohr Shell Model

Shell Distribution: [2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4]

Bohr Atomic Shell Model(2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 4)

Hover or tap any shell orbit ring to inspect electron counts and 2n² capacities.

82 Protons (p⁺)125 Neutrons (n⁰)
KShell K: Electron 1 of 2Shell K: Electron 2 of 2LShell L: Electron 1 of 8Shell L: Electron 2 of 8Shell L: Electron 3 of 8Shell L: Electron 4 of 8Shell L: Electron 5 of 8Shell L: Electron 6 of 8Shell L: Electron 7 of 8Shell L: Electron 8 of 8MShell M: Electron 1 of 18Shell M: Electron 2 of 18Shell M: Electron 3 of 18Shell M: Electron 4 of 18Shell M: Electron 5 of 18Shell M: Electron 6 of 18Shell M: Electron 7 of 18Shell M: Electron 8 of 18Shell M: Electron 9 of 18Shell M: Electron 10 of 18Shell M: Electron 11 of 18Shell M: Electron 12 of 18Shell M: Electron 13 of 18Shell M: Electron 14 of 18Shell M: Electron 15 of 18Shell M: Electron 16 of 18Shell M: Electron 17 of 18Shell M: Electron 18 of 18NShell N: Electron 1 of 32Shell N: Electron 2 of 32Shell N: Electron 3 of 32Shell N: Electron 4 of 32Shell N: Electron 5 of 32Shell N: Electron 6 of 32Shell N: Electron 7 of 32Shell N: Electron 8 of 32Shell N: Electron 9 of 32Shell N: Electron 10 of 32Shell N: Electron 11 of 32Shell N: Electron 12 of 32Shell N: Electron 13 of 32Shell N: Electron 14 of 32Shell N: Electron 15 of 32Shell N: Electron 16 of 32Shell N: Electron 17 of 32Shell N: Electron 18 of 32Shell N: Electron 19 of 32Shell N: Electron 20 of 32Shell N: Electron 21 of 32Shell N: Electron 22 of 32Shell N: Electron 23 of 32Shell N: Electron 24 of 32Shell N: Electron 25 of 32Shell N: Electron 26 of 32Shell N: Electron 27 of 32Shell N: Electron 28 of 32Shell N: Electron 29 of 32Shell N: Electron 30 of 32Shell N: Electron 31 of 32Shell N: Electron 32 of 32OShell O: Electron 1 of 18Shell O: Electron 2 of 18Shell O: Electron 3 of 18Shell O: Electron 4 of 18Shell O: Electron 5 of 18Shell O: Electron 6 of 18Shell O: Electron 7 of 18Shell O: Electron 8 of 18Shell O: Electron 9 of 18Shell O: Electron 10 of 18Shell O: Electron 11 of 18Shell O: Electron 12 of 18Shell O: Electron 13 of 18Shell O: Electron 14 of 18Shell O: Electron 15 of 18Shell O: Electron 16 of 18Shell O: Electron 17 of 18Shell O: Electron 18 of 18PShell P: Electron 1 of 4Shell P: Electron 2 of 4Shell P: Electron 3 of 4Shell P: Electron 4 of 4PbZ = 82

Educational Note: This Niels Bohr planetary model visually illustrates principal quantum energy shells ($n=1, 2, 3\dots$) and electron counts. In modern quantum mechanics (Schrödinger model), electrons do not orbit in fixed circular planetary tracks, but exist as 3D probability clouds (orbitals: $s, p, d, f$) governed by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.

Electron Shell Filling Breakdown

Shell K (n=1):2 / 2 electrons (100%)
Shell L (n=2):8 / 8 electrons (100%)
Shell M (n=3):18 / 18 electrons (100%)
Shell N (n=4):32 / 32 electrons (100%)
Shell O (n=5):18 / 50 electrons (36%)
Shell P (n=6):4 / 72 electrons (6%)
Aufbau Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p²

Neutral ground state configuration. Valence electrons: 4.

Atomic & Quantum Properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)1.87 Pauling
1st Ionization Energy715.6 kJ/mol
Electron Affinity-35.1 kJ/mol
Atomic Radius (empirical)154 pm
Common Oxidation States+2, +4
Crystal StructureFCC

Physical & Thermal Properties

Density at STP11.34 g/cm³
Melting Point327.46 °C (600.61 K)
Boiling Point1749 °C (2022 K)
Magnetic OrderingDiamagnetic
Discovery YearAncient
Discovered ByKnown since prehistoric antiquity (~7000 BC)

Real-World Uses, Occurrence & Compounds

Major Industrial & Everyday Uses
  • Automotive 12V lead-acid starter batteries (SLI batteries consuming 85% of global lead)
  • Radiation shielding aprons and architectural barriers in hospital X-ray and CT scan rooms
  • Underwater submarine ballast and marine keel counterweights
  • Stained glass window came strips and roofing flashing
Occurrence in Nature

Mined extensively from galena ore (lead sulfide / PbS), cerussite, and anglesite.

Etymology & Name Origin

From Celtic 'leadh'; symbol Pb from Latin 'plumbum' (plumbing)

Important Chemical Compounds
PbS (Galena)
PbO₂ (Lead dioxide)
Pb(N₃)₂ (Lead azide detonator)
PbCrO₄ (Lead chromate)
Interesting Chemical Facts
  • • Lead-208 is the heaviest known stable (non-radioactive) nucleus in the entire universe; every element heavier than lead is inherently radioactive.
  • • The English word 'plumbing' and 'plumber' originates directly from the Latin word for lead ('plumbum') because the Romans built extensive city water pipes out of lead.
  • • Lead-acid batteries are the most recycled consumer product in the world, with over 99% of battery lead recycled in closed-loop systems.
Safety & Handling Note

Potent cumulative neurotoxin causing irreversible cognitive decline in children and cardiovascular damage in adults.

Explore Neighborhood Elements

Same Group (Group 14):
#6C#14Si#32Ge#50Sn#114Fl
Same Period (Period 6):
#55Cs#56Ba#57La#58Ce#59Pr#60Nd#61Pm#62Sm#63Eu#64Gd#65Tb#66Dy#67Ho#68Er#69Tm#70Yb#71Lu#72Hf#73Ta#74W#75Re#76Os#77Ir#78Pt#79Au#80Hg#81Tl#83Bi#84Po#85At#86Rn