Lead Precipitates, Solutions, Colours, Solubility in Water

Lead metal (Pb) forms two cations such as Pb2+ and Pb4+. Both cations can form precipitates and solutions with anions and give colours in some occasions. Lead chloride, Lead bromide, Lead iodide are common precipitates of Pb2+ cation. Lead nitrate is a colourless solution. In this tutorial, we will discuss colours and solubility of lead compounds in detail.


  1. Precipitates and their colours of Pb2+ cation
  2. Solubility of lead precipitates in different solutions
  3. Aqueous solutions of lead cation with colours
  4. Solubility and Ksp values of lead precipitates


Precipitates of Lead(II) cation (Pb2+)

Lead chloride, Lead bromide, Lead iodide, Lead carbonate, Lead oxide, Lead sulfate are very common precipitates and their colours, properties, formations are discussed below.

precipitates and colours of lead(II) Pb2+ cation


Lead chloride (PbCl2)

Lead chloride is a white precipitate. It can be prepared easily by mixing lead nitrate with dilute HCl acid or NaCl. But, as products HNO3 or NaNO3 can be formed in the aqueous phase while forming PbCl2 precipitate.

PbNO3 + HCl → PbCl2 + HNO3

  • Lead chloride is not soluble in ammonia solution as silver chloride.
  • But PbCl2 is soluble in concentrated HCl solution and give a coordination complex, [PbCl4]2-.
  • As well, lead chloride is soluble in alkali hydroxide and hot water.


Lead bromide (PbBr2)

Lead bromide is a white-cream colour precipitate. It can be prepared easily by mixing lead nitrate with potassium bromide (KBr). But, as products KNO3 can be formed in the aqueous phase while forming lead bromide precipitate.

Lead bromide is too soluble in hot water and alkali hydroxides.


Lead iodide (PbI2)

Lead iodide is a yellow precipitate. It can be prepared easily by mixing lead nitrate with potassium iodide. But, as products KNO3 can be formed in the aqueous phase while forming silver iodide precipitate.

Lead iodide is soluble in hot water and alkali hydroxides.



Lead chloride, Lead bromide and Lead iodide can be readily identified by their colours.


Lead carbonate (PbCO3)

Lead carbonate is a white precipitate and soluble in alkali and dilute acid solutions. But, it is not soluble in ammonia solution. Lead carbonate precipitate can be formed by sending carbon dioxide gas to a lead nitrate or lead acetate aqueous solution.



Lead oxide (PbO)

Lead oxide is a red or brown precipitate which is not soluble in dilute alkalis. But, soluble in concentrated alkalis, dilute acids and ammonium chloride solutions.



Lead sulfate (PbSO4)

lead sulfate is a white precipitate and can be formed as below.

PbNO3 + H2SO4 → PbSO4 + 2HNO3

Lead sulfate is soluble in ammonium acetate (>= 6 mol/L), ammonium tartrate in presence of ammonium chloride and ammonia



Lead Sulfide (PbS)

Lead sulfide is a black precipitate and can be formed by mixing lead nitrate with hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfide anion containing salt. Lead sulfide is soluble in nitric acid and hot, dilute hydrochloric acid.



Solubility of lead precipitates in different solutions

  • Lead chloride, Lead bromide and Lead iodide are soluble in hot water. In cooling, precipitates are formed back.
  • Lead chloride, lead bromide, Lead iodide, Lead carbonate are soluble in alkalis. Lead oxide is soluble in concentrated alkalis.
solubility of lead precipitates in chemical solutions

Solubility and solubility product (Ksp) values of lead +2 cation precipitates and solutions

By studying solubility value and solubility product value, we can get a proper understanding whether respective Lead compound is soluble or insoluble in water.

Solubility and solubility product (Ksp) values of lead +2 cation precipitates and solutions

According to the solubility value, it is clear that Lead nitrate and Lead acetate are highly soluble compared to other Lead compounds in the table.



Aqueous solutions of lead cation with colours

Here, we are going to see several aqueous solutions of lead cation (Pb2+).


Lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2)

Lead nitrate is a colourless solution and used very much in laboratories. It is a toxic, carcinogenic solution and should use with care to avoid injuries.



Questions



colour of lead iodide precipitate

Lead iodide is a yellow colour precipitate which is not soluble in water.



Both Lead iodide and Silver iodide has same colour?

Both Lead iodide and Silver iodide are yellow colour precipitates. Both compounds are not soluble in water.



Is lead oxide (PbO) a precipitate

Solubility of PbO in water is 0.017 g/L. Therefore, Lead oxide is poorly soluble in water.





Silver nitrate and sodium chloride reaction Reaction of silver metal dilute nitric acid Testing silver ion Sodium bromide and silver nitrate reaction Sodium bromide and silver nitrate reaction Rusty brown silver precipitate







Related tutorials to lead metal and cation

Lead sulfide and hydrogen sulfide reaction Solubility of lead sulfide (PbS) Precipitates and aqueous solutions of lead cation Testing lead ion from qualitative analysis Lead nitrate and hydrochloric acid reaction Lead nitrate and sodium chloride reaction


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