Lead
Real Metals · Common · Timeless
One of the earliest metals worked by humans, lead's low melting point and ease of shaping made it ubiquitous in the ancient world. Its toxicity was not understood. Romans used lead vessels, pipes and even cooking additives, with consequences historians are still debating.
Identity
- Symbol
- Pb
- Atomic number
- 82
- Source
- Natural element
- Used in
- Pewter
- Aliases
- Plumbum, Pb
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Blue-grey, very soft, freshly cut surfaces shine but dull rapidly
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 11.34 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 327 °C
- Boiling point
- 1749 °C
- Lighter
- Adamantium
- Denser
- Adamantine
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Low
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Tensile strength
- 12 MPa
- Softer
- Mercury
- Harder
- Aluminum
- Workability
- Easy
- Brittleness
- Tough
- Malleability
- Very High
- Ductility
- Moderate
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- high
- Reactivity
- low
Lore & Narrative
Some historians have proposed that chronic lead poisoning from plumbing and wine vessels contributed to the cognitive decline of Roman emperors and aristocracy. The Latin word for plumbing, plumbum, is the origin of the chemical symbol Pb.
- Notable uses
- Ammunition, radiation shielding, batteries, ancient plumbing
- Forge uses
- ammunition, radiation shielding, weights
- Worldbuilding traits
- heavy, toxic, Ancient, cheap
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