Lead Acetate Formula: Chemical Structure, Properties, Uses and Production

Lead Acetate Formula Overview

Lead acetate is a chemical substance that is white and crystalline in color. Lead acetate has a sweet flavor but is poisonous. Sugar of Lead, Lead Diacetate, Plumbous Acetate, Salt of Saturn, and Goulard's Powder are some other names for it. Lead is a Group IV A element, and the bulk of its compounds have a +2 state. Lead (II) Ethanoate is the IUPAC name for lead acetate. When lead is boiled in hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid, lead acetate is produced. Lead acetate is formed when lead is boiled in hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid. The lead acetate formula isPb(C2H3O2)2. 

What is Acetate?

Acetate's chemical formula is C2H3O2. It is also known as Acetate Ion and Monoacetate. When acetic acid is mixed with alkaline, metallic, earthy, nonmetallic, or other bases, it forms a salt.

Lead Acetate Formula

The chemical formula of Lead Acetate is Pb(CH3COO)2.It is a combination of lead which is Pb+2 and acetate which is(CH3COO–) ions. In this combination, an electrovalent or ionic bond exists between lead and acetate ions. 

It must also be noted that +2 which is the oxidation state of lead makes up the name lead (II) acetate.

• Chemical Structure of Lead Acetate 

The chemical structure of lead acetate is as shown below –

Chemical Properties of Lead Acetate Formula  

The chemical properties of lead acetate play a significant role in its various applications.

Acid-Base Properties

Lead acetate is a weak acid that reacts with strong bases to form salts. For example, when lead acetate reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it forms lead (II) hydroxide (Pb(OH)2) and sodium acetate (NaC2H3O2).

Pb(C2H3O2)2 + 2NaOH → Pb(OH)2 + 2NaC2H3O2

Oxidation-Reduction Properties

Lead acetate can act as an oxidizing agent as well as a reducing agent. It can reduce silver ions (Ag+) to metallic silver (Ag) and is therefore used in black and white photography as a component in the developer solution. It can also act as an oxidizing agent and oxidize alcohols to aldehydes and ketones. For example, when lead acetate reacts with ethanol (C2H5OH), it forms acetaldehyde (CH3CHO).

Pb(C2H3O2)2 + 2C2H5OH → 2CH3CHO + Pb + 2C2H3O2

Decomposition Properties

Lead acetate decomposes at high temperatures, releasing toxic gases such as lead oxide and acetic acid. This property is utilized in the preparation of lead oxide. When lead acetate is heated, it decomposes to form lead oxide (PbO) and acetic acid (CH3COOH).

Pb(C2H3O2)2 → PbO + 2CH3COOH

Reaction with Sulfur-Containing Compounds

Lead acetate reacts with sulfur-containing compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and amino acids containing sulfur to form lead sulfide (PbS). This property is utilized in hair dyes to darken the hair. When lead acetate reacts with hydrogen sulfide, it forms lead sulfide (PbS) and acetic acid (CH3COOH).

Pb(C2H3O2)2 + H2S → PbS + 2CH3COOH

Physical Properties of Lead Acetate Formula

Production of Lead Acetate Formula

It can be produced by following two methods –

• By the reaction of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and elemental lead
• By the reaction of copper acetate and lead metal

By the reaction of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and elemental lead – Elemental lead is boiled in acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which results in lead acetate and water. Lead carbonate or lead oxide can be used in place of elemental lead. The reaction is given below–

Pb_(s)+ H₂O_2(aq)+ 2H⁺_(aq)→ Pb²⁺_(aq)+ 2H₂O_(l)

Pb²⁺_(aq)+ 2CH₃COO⁻_(aq)→ Pb(CH₃COO)_2(aq)

By the reaction of copper acetate and lead metal, lead metal on reaction with copper acetate displaces copper metal and forms lead acetate by a single displacement reaction. The equation is given below –

Cu(CH₃COO)₂+ Pb → Cu + Pb(CH₃COO)₂

Applications of Lead Acetate Formula

Lead acetate is used in various applications, such as hair dyes, photography, and as a mordant in textile dyeing. The following are some of the applications of lead acetate:

• Hair dyes: Lead acetate is used in hair dyes to darken the hair. It reacts with sulfur-containing amino acids in the hair to form lead sulfide, which gives a dark color to the hair.
• Photography: Lead acetate is used as a component in the developer solution used in black and white photography. It helps in reducing the silver ions to metallic silver, which forms the image.
• Textile dyeing: Lead acetate is used as a mordant in textile dyeing. It helps in fixing the dye on the fabric and improving its colorfastness.

Uses of Lead Acetate Formula

As per the properties of lead, lead acetate is poisonous in nature, even though it has many uses. Some of the uses of lead acetate are as follows:

1. Due to the sweetening tendency of lead acetate, it has been used as a sugar substitute in many food items and wine. However, by the time lead acetate's toxicity was discovered, it had been banned as a sweetening agent.
2. Lead acetate has been used in cosmetics, but it has been discovered that it contains carcinogenic properties. Therefore, the usage of lead acetate has been banned in cosmetics.
3. Many a time, it is used in textile printing and dyeing. 
4. Hydrogen sulfide gas is detected using lead acetate. 
5. Lead acetate is used in making anti-foaming agent dispersion agents, emulsifiers, and floatation agents.

Lead Acetate Formula: Things to Remember

1. Lead acetate is a chemical compound, which is white crystalline in texture and poisonous. 
2. Pb(CH3COO)2 is the chemical formula for Lead Acetate. It is made up of a combination of acetic acid and lead. 
3. Lead acetate is also known as Lead Diacetate, Sugar of Lead, Plumbous Acetate, Salt of Saturn, whereas its IUPAC name is Lead (II) Ethanoate. 
4. Lead acetate is formed by boiling lead in acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. 
5. Lead acetate is toxic and so it has been prohibited for usage as a sweetening agent and as a cosmetic product.