Lead(II) phosphate is an
ionic compound
In chemistry, an ionic compound is a chemical compound composed of ions held together by electrostatic forces termed ionic bonding. The compound is neutral overall, but consists of positively charged ions called cations and negatively charged i ...
with chemical formula
Pb3(
P O4)
2. Lead(II) phosphate is a long-lived electronically neutral reagent chemical. Despite limited tests on humans, it has been identified as a
carcinogen based on tests on animals conducted by the
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it be ...
. Lead(II) phosphate appears as hexagonal, colorless crystals or as a white powder. Lead(II) phosphate is insoluble in water and alcohol but soluble in
nitric acid (HNO
3) and fused alkali metal hydroxides. When lead(II) phosphate is heated for decomposition it emits very toxic fumes containing
Lead (Pb) and PO
x.
[Lewis, Richard J., Lewis, Richard J. Sr., (2008). Hazardous chemicals desk reference (sixth ed.) pg 831. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons, Inc.]
Preparation
It is prepared by reacting
lead(II) hydroxide
Lead(II) hydroxide, Pb(OH)2, is a hydroxide of lead, with lead in oxidation state +2. In 1964 it was believed that such a simple compound did not exist, as lead basic carbonate (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2) or lead(II) oxide (PbO) was encountered where lead ...
with
orthophosphoric acid.
:
References
Lead(II) compounds
Phosphates
{{inorganic-compound-stub