Lead carbonate

Lead(II) carbonate is the chemical compound with the chemical formula PbCO3. It is a white, toxic solid. It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite.

Structure
Like all metal carbonates, lead(II) carbonate adopts a dense, highly crosslinked structure consisting of intact CO3(2-) and metal cation sites. As verified by X-ray crystallography, the Pb(II) centers are seven-coordinate, being surrounded by multiple carbonate ligands. The carbonate centers are bonded bidentate to a single Pb and bridge to five other Pb sites.

Production and use
Lead carbonate is manufactured by passing carbon dioxide into a cold dilute solution of lead(II) acetate, or by shaking a suspension of a lead salt more soluble than the carbonate with ammonium carbonate at a low temperature to avoid formation of basic lead carbonate.


 * Pb(CH3COO)2 + [NH4]2CO3 -> PbCO3 + 2 [NH4](CH3COO)

Lead carbonate is used as a catalyst to polymerize formaldehyde to poly(oxymethylene). It improves the bonding of chloroprene to wire.

Regulations
The supply and use of this compound is restricted in Europe.

Other lead carbonates
A number of lead carbonates are known:
 * White lead, a basic lead carbonate, 2PbCO3*Pb(OH)2
 * Shannonite, PbCO3*PbO
 * Plumbonacrite, 3PbCO3*Pb(OH)2*PbO
 * PbCO3*2PbO
 * Abellaite, NaPb2(OH)(CO3)2
 * Leadhillite, 2PbCO3*PbSO4*Pb(OH)2