Table of Contents
What family is lead found in?
carbon family
Group 14 is the carbon family. The five members are carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, and lead. All of these elements have four electrons in their outermost energy level. Of the Group 14 elements, only carbon and silicon form bonds as nonmetals (sharing electrons covalently).
What family number is lead?
Fact box
| Group | 14 | 327.462°C, 621.432°F, 600.612 K |
|---|---|---|
| Period | 6 | 1749°C, 3180°F, 2022 K |
| Block | p | 11.3 |
| Atomic number | 82 | 207.2 |
| State at 20°C | Solid | 208Pb |
Where do we find lead?
Lead can be found in all parts of our environment – the air, the soil, the water, and even inside our homes. Much of our exposure comes from human activities including the use of fossil fuels including past use of leaded gasoline, some types of industrial facilities and past use of lead-based paint in homes.
Who found lead?
Lead was one of the earliest metals discovered by the human race and was in use by 3000 B.C. The ancient Romans used lead for making water pipes and lining baths, and the plumber who joins and mends pipes takes his name from the Latin word plumbum, meaning lead.
What household items are made of lead?
Lead in Household Items
- Painted toys, especially older toys.
- Painted furniture, especially older furniture.
- Toy jewelry.
- Cosmetics (makeup)
- Plumbing products such as pipes and fixtures.
- Cookware, including food or liquid containers made of lead crystal, lead-glazed pottery.
- Dietary supplements.
- Traditional (folk) medicines.
Where does lead come from in the UK?
Lead is chiefly obtained from the mineral galena by a roasting process. At least 40% of lead in the UK is recycled from secondary sources such as scrap batteries and pipes.
How are children and adults exposed to lead?
Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from playing with toys with lead-based paint. Adults, Including Pregnant Women
How is lead stored in the body during pregnancy?
Pregnant Women. Lead can accumulate in our bodies over time, where it is stored in bones along with calcium. During pregnancy, lead is released from the mother’s bones along with calcium and can pass from the mother exposing the fetus or the breastfeeding infant to lead.
Can a fetus be exposed to lead during pregnancy?
Lead in bone is released into blood during pregnancy and becomes a source of exposure to the developing fetus. There is no level of exposure to lead that is known to be without harmful effects. Lead exposure is preventable.