Lead

**Symbol:** Pb **Atomic number:** 82 **International name:** Lead **Relative Atomic Weight:** 207.2 **Description:** Lead is a heavy, toxic and malleable metal with a characteristic gray-blue color. It is known for its ability to absorb X-rays and its resistance to corrosion due to the formation of a protective layer of oxides, hydroxides and carbonates on its surface. **Applications:** Lead is used in the production of lead-acid batteries, such as those found in automobiles. It is also used as a shielding material for protection against X-rays and is a component of various alloys, such as those used in soldering and in leaded glass. **Occurrence:** Lead is relatively scarce in the Earth's crust. A significant lead mineral is galena (PbS). **Structure:** Lead crystallizes in a cubic system with a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure.