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]
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]
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
^S.V. Krivovichev and P.C. Burns, "Crystal chemistry of basic lead carbonates. II. Crystal structure of synthetic 'plumbonacrite'." Mineralogical Magazine, 64(6), pp. 1069-1075, December 2000. "Archived copy"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)