Lead(II) chloride

Lead(II) chloride

Names
IUPAC name Lead(II) chloride
Other names Cotunnite Lead dichloride Plumbous chloride
Properties
Chemical formula	PbCl2
Molar mass	278.10 g/mol
Appearance	White solid
Odor	Odorless
Density	5.85 g/cm3 (20 °C)
Melting point	501 °C (934 °F; 774 K)
Boiling point	950 °C (1,740 °F; 1,220 K)
Solubility in water	0.673 g/100 ml (0 °C) 0.99 g/100 ml (20 °C) 3.34 g/100 ml (100 °C)
Solubility	Slightly soluble in dil. hydrochloric acid, aq. ammonia Insoluble in alcohols, carboxylic acids, hydrocarbons
Vapor pressure	~ 0 mmHg
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (So298)	135.98 J·K−1·mol−1
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfHo298)	-359.41 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet	Sigma-Aldrich
Flash point	Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (Median dose)	1.947 mg/kg (rat, oral)
Related compounds
Related compounds	Lead(II) iodide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Lead(II) chloride is a chemical compound with the chemical formula PbCl₂.

Properties

Chemical

Addition of chloride ions to a suspension of PbCl₂ gives rise to soluble complex ions.

PbCl₂ reacts with molten sodium nitrite to give PbO:

PbCl₂ + 3 NaNO₂ → PbO + NaNO₃ + 2 NO + 2 NaCl

If chlorine gas is bubbled through a saturated solution of PbCl₂ with ammonium chloride, ammonium hexachloroplumbate [NH₄]₂[PbCl₆] is obtained. If cold concentrated sulfuric acid is added to the solid compound, while maintaining the temperature around 0 °C, lead(IV) chloride (PbCl₄) is obtained, as a clear oil.

Addition of sodium hypochlorite to lead(II) chloride will form lead(IV) oxide.

Lead(II) chloride is the main precursor for organometallic derivatives of lead, such as plumbocenes.

Physical

Lead(II) chloride is a white solid, slightly soluble in water.

Availability

Lead(II) chloride is sold by chemical suppliers.

PbCl₂ occurs naturally in the form of the mineral cotunnite.

Preparation

Lead(II) chloride precipitates from solution upon addition of chloride sources (HCl, NaCl, KCl) to aqueous solutions of soluble lead(II) compounds:

Pb(NO₃)₂ + 2 NaCl → PbCl₂ + 2 NaNO₃

Pb(CH₃COO)₂ + HCl → PbCl₂ + 2 CH₃COOH

Addition of HCl to lead(II) carbonate will also produce lead(II) carbonate, although due to the low solubility of the lead chloride, this reaction is slow.

PbCO₃ + 2 HCl → PbCl₂ + CO₂ + H₂O

Addition of hydrochloric acid to lead oxides gives lead(II) chloride, and for lead(IV) oxide, chlorine gas is also produced:

PbO₂ + 4 HCl → PbCl₂ + Cl₂ + 2 H₂O

PbO + 2 HCl → PbCl₂ + H₂O

Chlorine gas will react with lead metal to form lead dichloride.

Pb + Cl₂ → PbCl₂

Projects

• Make lead tetrachloride
• Make Pattinson's white lead
• Make plumbocenes
• Mineral collecting

Handling

Safety

Like other lead containing compounds, exposure to PbCl₂ will cause lead poisoning.

Storage

In closed plastic or glass bottles.

Disposal

Should be taken to hazardous waste disposal centers.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• The lead salts preparation thread!