Lead(II) nitrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Pb(NO3)2. It commonly occurs as a colourless crystal or white powder and, unlike most other lead(II) salts, is soluble in water.
Known since the Middle Ages by the name plumbum dulce, the production of lead(II) nitrate from either metallic lead or lead oxide in nitric acid was small-scale, for direct use in making other lead compounds. In the nineteenth century lead(II) nitrate began to be produced commercially in Europe and the United States. Historically, the main use was as a raw material in the production of pigments for lead paints, but such paints have been superseded by less toxic paints based on titanium dioxide. Other industrial uses included heat stabilization in nylon and polyesters, and in coatings of photothermographic paper. Since around the year 2000, lead(II) nitrate has begun to be used in gold cyanidation.
Lead(II) nitrate is toxic and must be handled with care to prevent inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. Due to its hazardous nature, the limited applications of lead(II) nitrate are under constant scrutiny.
Lead nitrate was first identified in 1597 by the alchemist Andreas Libavius, who called the substance plumbum dulce, meaning "sweet lead", because of its taste.[1] It is produced commercially by reaction of metallic lead with concentrated nitric acid in which it is sparingly soluble.[2] [3] It has been produced as a raw material for making pigments such as chrome yellow (lead(II) chromate, PbCrO4) and chrome orange (basic lead(II) chromate, Pb2CrO5) and Naples yellow. These pigments were used for dyeing and printing calico and other textiles.[4] It has been used as an oxidizer in black powder and together with lead azide in special explosives.[5]
Lead nitrate is produced by reaction of lead(II) oxide with concentrated nitric acid:[6]
PbO + 2 HNO3(concentrated) → Pb(NO3)2↓ + H2O It may also be obtained evaporation of the solution obtained by reacting metallic lead with dilute nitric acid.[7]
Pb + 4 HNO3 → Pb(NO3)2 + 2 NO2 + 2 H2O
Solutions and crystals of lead(II) nitrate are formed in the processing of lead–bismuth wastes from lead refineries.[8]