Lead nitrate

Description

White, translucent crystals that are produced by the reaction of nitric acid on lead. Lead nitrate is a strong oxidizing material. It is used as a mordant in dyeing and printing calico and for staining mother-of-pearl. Lead nitrate is also used as a sensitizer in photography and is used in engraving and lithographic processes.

Synonyms and Related Terms

lead (II) nitrate; lead dinitrate; plumbous nitrate; nitrato de plomo (II) (Esp.);

Chemical structure

Other Properties

Soluble in water and ethanol.

Composition	Pb(NO3)2
CAS	10099-74-8
Melting Point	290 (dec)
Density	4.53
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 331.2

Hazards and Safety

Toxic by inhalation or ingestion. Skin contact may cause irritation or ulcers. Carcinogen, teratogen, suspected mutagen.

LINK: International Chemical Safety Card

Authority

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 5434

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_%28II%29_nitrate (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)