lead(II) acetate

Lead(II) acetate can be made by boiling elemental lead in acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. This method will also work with lead(II) carbonate or lead(II) oxide.

:{{chem2|Pb + H2O2 + 2 H(+) → Pb(2+) + 2 H2O}}

:{{chem2|Pb(2+) + 2 AcO(-) → Pb(OAc)2}}

Lead(II) acetate can also be made by dissolving lead(II) oxide in acetic acid:{{Greenwood&Earnshaw2nd|pages=373, 388}}

:{{chem2|PbO + 2 AcOH -> Pb(OAc)2 + H2O}}

Lead(II) acetate can also be made via a single-displacement reaction between copper acetate and lead metal:

:{{chem2|Cu(OAc)2 + Pb → Cu + Pb(OAc)2}}

The crystal structure of anhydrous lead(II) acetate has been described as a 2D coordination polymer. In comparison, lead(II) acetate trihydrate's structure is a 1D coordination polymer.{{cite journal |journal=Inorg. Chem. |year=2016 |volume=55 |issue=17 |pages=8576–8585 |last1=Martínez-Casado |first1=Francisco J. |last2=Ramos-Riesco |first2=Miguel |last3=Rodríguez-Cheda |first3=José A. |last4=Cucinotta |first4=Fabio |last5=Matesanz |first5=Emilio |last6=Miletto |first6=Ivana |last7=Gianotti |first7=Enrica |last8=Marchese |first8=Leonardo |last9=Matěj |first9=Zdeněk |title=Unraveling the Decomposition Process of Lead(II) Acetate: Anhydrous Polymorphs, Hydrates, and Byproducts and Room Temperature Phosphorescence |pmid=27548299 |doi=10.1021/acs.inorgchem.6b01116}} In the trihydrate, the Pb²⁺ ion's coordination sphere consists of nine oxygen atoms belonging to three water molecules, two bidentate acetate groups and two bridging acetate groups. The coordination geometry at Pb is a monocapped square antiprism.{{cite journal |title=Crystal structure of lead acetate trihydrate |last1=Rajaram |first1=R. K. |last2=Mohana Rao |first2=J. K. |journal=Z. Kristallogr. |volume=160 |issue=1–4 |pages=225–233 |year=1982 |doi=10.1524/zkri.1982.160.14.225 |s2cid=201671682}}{{cite journal |title=Carbon-13 CP/MAS NMR and crystallographic investigations of the structure and solid-state transformations of lead(II) acetate trihydrate |last1=Bryant |first1=Robert G. |last2=Chacko |first2=V. P. |last3=Etter |first3=Margaret C. |authorlink3=Margaret C. Etter |journal=Inorg. Chem. |year=1984 |volume=23 |issue=22 |pages=3580–3584 |doi=10.1021/ic00190a029}} The trihydrate thermally decomposes to a hemihydrate, Pb(OAc)₂·{{frac|2}}H₂O, and to basic acetates such as Pb₄O(OAc)₆ and Pb₂O(OAc)₂.

Lead acetate is used as a precursor to other lead compounds such as the various carbonate.

Lead(II) acetate paper is used to detect the poisonous gas hydrogen sulfide. The gas reacts with lead(II) acetate on the moistened test paper to form a grey precipitate of lead(II) sulfide.

An aqueous solution of lead(II) acetate is a byproduct of the process used in the cleaning and maintenance of stainless steel firearm suppressors (silencers) and compensators when using a 1:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar (acetic acid). The solution is agitated by the bubbling action of the hydrogen peroxide, with the main reaction being the oxidation of lead by hydrogen peroxide and subsequent dissolution of lead oxide by the acetic acid, which forms lead acetate. Because of its high toxicity, this chemical solution must be appropriately disposed by a chemical processing facility or hazardous materials centre. Alternatively, the solution may be reacted with sulfuric acid to precipitate nearly insoluble lead(II) sulfate. The solid may then be removed by mechanical filtration and is safer to dispose of than aqueous lead acetate.

Like other lead(II) salts, lead(II) acetate has a sweet taste, which led to its historical use as a sugar substitute in both wines and foods.[https://www.winemag.com/2020/07/20/lead-toxicity-wine-history/ "The Disturbingly Long History of Lead Toxicity in Winemaking."] Anna Archibald, 30 July 2020. Retrieved: 22 December, 2020.

The ancient Romans, who had few sweeteners besides honey, would boil must (unfiltered grape juice) in lead pots to produce a reduced sugar syrup called defrutum, concentrated again into sapa. This syrup was used to sweeten wine and to sweeten and preserve fruit. It is possible that lead(II) acetate or other lead compounds leaching into the syrup might have caused lead poisoning in those who consumed it.{{cite web |title=Lead Poisoning and Rome |website=penelope.uchicago.edu |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/leadpoisoning.html |access-date=5 May 2024}} Lead acetate is no longer used in the production of sweeteners because of its recognized toxicity. Legislation prohibiting its use as a wine sweetener circa 1750 proved ineffective until decades later, when chemical methods of detecting its presence had been developed.{{citation |title=Hazardous Metals in the Environment |volume=12 |series=Techniques and Instrumentation in Analytical Chemistry |last=Stoeppler |first=M. |publisher=Elsevier |year=1992 |isbn=9780080875606 |page=60 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x1zrlwqHlkoC&pg=PA60 |quote=From the results achieved so far it is obvious that the purity law for lead in wines in the last two centuries was frequently ignored.}}

The earliest confirmed poisoning by lead acetate was that of Pope Clement II, who died in October 1047. A toxicological examination of his remains conducted in the mid-20th century confirmed centuries-old rumors that he had been poisoned with sugar of lead.Specht, W. and Fischer, K. (1959). {{lang|de|italic=no|"Vergiftungsnachweis an den Resten einer 900 Jahre alten Leiche"}} [Evidence of poisoning in the remains of a 900-year-old corpse] (in German). {{lang|de|Archiv für Kriminologie}} 124: 61–84. It is not clear whether he was assassinated.

In 1787 painter and biographer Albert Christoph Dies swallowed, by accident, approximately {{convert|3//4|oz|g|-1}} of lead acetate. His recovery from this poison was slow and incomplete. He lived with illnesses until his death in 1822.{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Dies, Christoph Albert|volume=8|page=211}}{{cite book |last=Dies |first=Albert Christoph |author-link=Albert Christoph Dies |year=1810 |title=Biographische Nachrichten von Joseph Haydn nach mündlichen Erzählungen desselben entworfen und herausgegeben |trans-title=Biographical Accounts of Joseph Haydn, written and edited from his own spoken narratives |location=Vienna |publisher=Camesinaische Buchhandlung}} English translation in: {{cite book |last=Dies |first=Albert Christoph |chapter=Biographical Accounts of Joseph Haydn |year=1963 |editor-last=Gotwals |editor-first=Vernon |title=Haydn: Two Contemporary Portraits |translator-first=Vernon |translator-last=Gotwals |location=Milwaukee |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |isbn=0-299-02791-0 |ref=CITEREFGotwals1963}}

Although the use of lead(II) acetate as a sweetener was already illegal at that time, composer Ludwig van Beethoven may have died of lead poisoning caused by wines adulterated with lead acetate (see also Beethoven's liver).{{cite web |title=Beethoven und Blei: Tödliches Zusammenspiel |trans-title=Beethoven and lead: deadly interaction |website=pharmazeutische-zeitung.de |url=https://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/magazin-30-2001 |access-date=2024-12-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221085150/http://www.pharmazeutische-zeitung.de/fileadmin/pza/2001-30/magazin.htm |archive-date=2009-02-21}}{{cite web |title=Beethoven litt unter Bleivergiftung |trans-title=Beethoven suffered from lead poisoning |website=3sat.de |url=http://www.3sat.de/3sat.php?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3sat.de%2Fnano%2Fnews%2F11258%2Findex.html |access-date=2020-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221093939/http://www.3sat.de/3sat.php?http%3A%2F%2Fwww.3sat.de%2Fnano%2Fnews%2F11258%2Findex.html |archive-date=2009-02-21}}

In 1887, 38 hunting horses belonging to Captain William Hollwey Steeds were poisoned in their stables at Clonsilla House, Dublin, Ireland. At least ten of the horses died. Captain Steeds, an "extensive commission agent," had previously supplied the horses for the Bray and Greystones Coach. It transpired that they had been fed a bran mash that had been sweetened with a toxic lead acetate.Weekly Irish Times, Saturday 15 October 1887; Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet, 24 October 1887, p. 3

Lead(II) acetate and white lead have been used in cosmetics throughout history.Gunn, Fenja. (1973) The Artificial Face: A History of Cosmetics. — as cited in [https://public.websites.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/leisure/leadfacepowder.html Leisure Activities of an 18th Century Lady] websites.umich.edu

It was once used for men's hair colouring products[https://web.archive.org/web/20081204121726/http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/courses/geog100/MielkeHairLead4.htm Lead Based Hair Products: Too Hazardous for Household Use - Results], Howard W. Mielke, PhD, Myiesha D. Taylor, Chris R. Gonzales, M. Kelley Smith, Pamela V. Daniels, and Ayanna V.Buckner. Journal of American Pharmaceutical Association (NS37, Jan/Feb 1997:85-89). like Grecian Formula. The manufacturer did not remove lead acetate from its product until 2018. Lead acetate has been replaced by bismuth citrate as the progressive colorant. Its use in cosmetics has been banned in Canada by Health Canada since 2005 (effective at the end of 2006) based on tests showing possible carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity,{{cite web |title=Can West News Service: Grecian Formula in a grey zone after ban |website=canada.com |url=http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=6caa01c2-3fb0-4431-a559-43aeece93860 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808083503/http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=6caa01c2-3fb0-4431-a559-43aeece93860 |archive-date=2007-08-08}} and it is also banned in the European Union.

Lead(II) acetate solution was a commonly used folk remedy for sore nipples.[https://www.gutenberg.org/files/13493/13493-h/13493-h.htm The American Frugal Housewife, by Lydia M. Child] gutenberg.org In modern medicine, for a time, it was used as an astringent, in the form of Goulard's extract, and it has also been used to treat poison ivy.Laboratory manual in biology. Sharpe. 1911, American Book Company. p. 351

In the 1850s, Mary Seacole applied lead(II) acetate, among other remedies, against an epidemic of cholera in Panama.Mary Seacole (1990), Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands, Chapter IV, Oxford University Press reprint, {{ISBN|0-19-506672-3}}; (2005 Penguin 20th Century Classics reprint, ed. Sarah Salih) {{ISBN|0-14-043902-1}}Jane Robinson (2004), Mary Seacole: The Charismatic Black Nurse who became a heroine of the Crimea, p.53. Constable {{ISBN|1-84119-677-0}}

It was also used in making of slow match during the Middle Ages. It was made by mixing vinegar with litharge, a natural form of lead(II) oxide.

Sugar of lead was a recommended agent added to linseed oil during heating to produce "boiled" linseed oil, the lead and heat acting to cause the oil to cure faster than raw linseed oil.Andés, Louis Edgar, and Arthur Morris. Oil colours and printers' inks a practical handbook treating of linseed oil, boiled oil, paints, artists' colours, lampblack, and printers' inks, black and coloured. London: Scott, Greenwood. 1903. 41. Print.

Lead(II) acetate ("salt of Saturn") was used to synthesise acetone which was then known as "spirit of Saturn" for being made with the salt of Saturn and thought to be a lead compound in the 17th century.Mel Gorman, History of acetone (1600–1850), 1962

• Saturn's Tree

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Lead(II) acetate}}

• [https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.html Case Studies in Environmental Medicine - Lead Toxicity]
• [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/wine/leadpoisoning.html Essay on "Lead Poisoning and Rome"]
• [https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/hair-coloring6.htm HowStuffWorks "What Kind of Hair Color Do Men Use?" discussion of progressive dyes containing lead acetate]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080111154608/http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/50.html National Pollutant Inventory - Lead and Lead Compounds Fact sheet (Does Not Bring Up Lead)]
• [https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=93&toxid=22 ToxFAQs: Lead]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070705040143/http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-lead.html US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fact sheet "Lead Acetate in Hair Dye Products"]
• [https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=73.2396 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)21CFR73.2396 "PART 73 -- LISTING OF COLOR ADDITIVES EXEMPT FROM CERTIFICATION, Subpart C--Cosmetics, Sec. 73.2396 Lead acetate"]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Lead compounds}}

{{Acetates}}

Category:Acetates

Category:Alchemical substances

Category:Lead(II) compounds

Category:Sugar substitutes