Lead carbonate

Lead(II) carbonate is the chemical compound with the chemical formula PbCO₃. It is a white, toxic solid.^[2] It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite.^[3]

Lead carbonate

Names
IUPAC name Lead(II) carbonate
Other names Cerussite
Identifiers
CAS Number	598-63-0 Y
ChemSpider	11234
ECHA InfoCard	100.009.041
EC Number	209-943-4
PubChem CID	11727
RTECS number	OF9275000
UNII	43M0P24L2B Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID90883460
Properties
Chemical formula	PbCO3
Molar mass	267.21 g/mol
Appearance	White powder
Density	6.582 g/cm3
Melting point	315 °C (599 °F; 588 K) (decomposes)
Solubility in water	0.00011 g/(100 mL) (20 °C)
Solubility product (Ksp)	1.46·10−13
Solubility	insoluble in alcohol, ammonia; soluble in acid, alkali
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−61.2·10−6 cm3/mol
Refractive index (nD)	1.804[1]
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H302, H332, H360, H373, H410
Precautionary statements	P201, P202, P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P281, P301+P312, P304+P312, P304+P340, P308+P313, P312, P314, P330, P391, P405, P501
Flash point	Non-flammable
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Structure

Like all metal carbonates, lead(II) carbonate adopts a dense, highly crosslinked structure consisting of intact CO2−3 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.^[4]

Pb site in PbCO₃, highlighting seven-coordination and the presence of one bidentate carbonate ligand for each Pb center.

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.^[2]

Pb(CH₃COO)₂ + [NH₄]₂CO₃ → PbCO₃ + 2 [NH₄](CH₃COO)

Lead carbonate is used as a catalyst to polymerize formaldehyde to poly(oxymethylene). It improves the bonding of chloroprene to wire.^[2]

Regulations

The supply and use of this compound is restricted in Europe.^[5]

Other lead carbonates

A number of lead carbonates are known:

• White lead, a basic lead carbonate, 2PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂
• Shannonite, PbCO₃·PbO
• Plumbonacrite, 3PbCO₃·Pb(OH)₂·PbO^[6]
• PbCO₃·2PbO
• Abellaite, NaPb₂(OH)(CO₃)₂
• Leadhillite, 2PbCO₃·PbSO₄·Pb(OH)₂