Synthetic lead(II) oxide prepared by heating lead or certain lead compounds in air is called LITHARGE. It is a poisonous yellow or reddish-yellow solid, used in making lead glass, pottery glazes, and rubber
PbO is a component of paints and in glass, as well as in vulcanization of rubber. A mixture with glycerine sets to a hard, waterproof cement that has been used to join the flat glass sides and bottoms of aquaria. PbO is used in certain condensation reactions in organic synthesis.[3] PbO is the main ingredient of the paste used for filling the plates during manufacturing of lead-acid batteries.
PbO is used in cathode ray tube glass to block X-ray emission, but mainly in the neck and funnel because it can cause discoloration when used in the faceplate. Strontium oxide is preferred for the faceplate.
Glazing pottery, Glass flux for painting, Lead glass; Metal cement with Glycerol; Storage batteries; Ointments and Plasters; Preparing lead subacetate solutions. Pproducing iridescent colors on brass and bronze; Coloring sulfur-containing substances; Pigment for rubber; Oil refining; Varnishes, Paints, and Enamels; Aassays for precious metal ores
Reactions
The red and yellow forms of this material are related by a small change in enthalpy: PbO(red) → PbO(yellow) ΔH = 1.6 kJ/mol
PbO is amphoteric, which means that it reacts with both acids and with bases. With acids, it forms salts of Pb
2+ via the intermediacy of oxo clusters such as [Pb
6O(OH)
6]
4+. With strong base, PbO dissolves to form plumbite(II) salts: PbO + H
2O + OH
- → [Pb(OH)
3]
-
