Lead oxidation states

The tendency of elements of higher atomic number to retain the s electrons as an inert pair is also encountered in Group IV, and in this case it is found that for lead the most stable oxidation state is + 2, achieved by loss of two p electrons. 

The oxidation state -1-4 is predominantly covalent and the stability of compounds with this oxidation state generally decreases with increasing atomic size (Figure 8.1). It is the most stable oxidation state for silicon, germanium and tin, but for lead the oxidation state +4 is found to be less stable than oxidation state +2 and hence lead(IV) compounds have oxidising properties (for example, see p. 194). 

The concept of oxidation states is best applied only to germanium, tin and lead, for the chemistry of carbon and silicon is almost wholly defined in terms of covalency with the carbon and silicon atoms sharing all their four outer quantum level electrons. These are often tetrahedrally arranged around the central atom. There are compounds of carbon in which the valency appears to be less than... 

Silicon, germanium, tin and lead can make use of unfilled d orbitals to expand their covalency beyond four and each of these elements is able (but only with a few ligands) to increase its covalency to six. Hence silicon in oxidation state -f-4 forms the octahedral hexafluorosilicate complex ion [SiFg] (but not [SiCl] ). Tin and lead in oxidation state -1-4 form the hexahydroxo complex ions, hexahydroxostannate(IV). [Sn(OH) ] and hexahydroxoplum-bate(IV) respectively when excess alkali is added to an aqueous solution containing hydrated tin(IV) and lead(IV) ions. 

Again, nitric acid readily dissolves lead but is unable to oxidise lead beyond the oxidation state -P 2. The reduction products of the nitric acid vary with the concentration of acid used, and a number of nitrogen oxides are usually obtained. Warm dilute nitric acid gives mainly nitrogen oxide, NO. 

Pb + 40H + 2H2O [PbfOH) ] + H2t Notice, again, that the lower oxidation state of lead is formed. 

Lead, like tin, forms only one hydride, plumbane. This hydride is very unstable, dissociating into lead and hydrogen with great rapidity. It has not been possible to analyse it rigorously or determine any of its physical properties, but it is probably PbH4. Although this hydride is unstable, some of its derivatives are stable thus, for example, tetraethyllead, Pb(C2Hj)4, is one of the most stable compounds with lead in a formal oxidation state of + 4. It is used as an antiknock in petrol. 

Lead(IV) oxide is found to have a considerable oxidising power, again indicating that the oxidation state +2 is generally more stable for lead than oxidation state +4. Concentrated hydrochloric acid, for example, reacts with PbO at room temperature to form lead(II) chloride and chlorine ... 

Variable oxidation state is also exhibited in the oxides themselves among metals in this region of electronegativity. Thus lead, for example, forms the monoxide PbO (+2) and the dioxide PbO 2 ( + 4) (the compound Pbj04 is not a simple oxide but is sometimes called a compound oxide). Similarly, manganese gives the oxides MnO and Mn02-... 

When an element has more than one oxidation state the lower halides tend to be ionic whilst the higher ones are covalent—the anhydrous chlorides of lead are a good example, for whilst leadfll) chloride, PbCl2, is a white non-volatile solid, soluble in water without hydrolysis, leadflV) chloride, PbC, is a liquid at room temperature (p. 200) and is immediately hydrolysed. This change of bonding with oxidation state follows from the rules given on p.49... 

Halogens can act as ligands and are commonly found in complex ions the ability of fluorine to form stable complex ions with elements in high oxidation states has already been discussed (p. 316). However, the chlorides of silver, lead(Il) and mercury(l) are worthy of note. These chlorides are insoluble in water and used as a test for the metal, but all dissolve in concentrated hydrochloric acid when the complex chlorides are produced, i.e. [AgCl2] , [PbC ] and [Hg Clj]", in the latter case the mercury(I) chloride having also disproportionated. 

Vigorous oxidation leads to the formation of a carboxylic acid but a number of meth ods permit us to stop the oxidation at the intermediate aldehyde stage The reagents most commonly used for oxidizing alcohols are based on high oxidation state transition met als particularly chromium(VI)... 

Lead forms two series of compounds corresponding to the oxidation states of +2 and +4. The +2 state is the more common. Compounds of lead(IV) are regarded as covalent, those of lead(II) as primarily ionic. Lead is amphoteric, forming plumbous (Pb(II)) and plumbic (Pb(IV)) salts as well as plumbites and plumbates, respectively. 

Tetrabasic Lead Sulfate. Tetrabasic lead sulfate [12065-90-6] 4PbO PbSO, mol wt 1196.12, sp gr 8.15, is made by fusion of stoichiometric quantities of Htharge (PbO) and lead sulfate (PbSO heat of formation, Ai/ = — 1814 kJ/mol (—434.1 kcal/mol). Alternatively, tetrabasic lead sulfate may be prepared by boiling the components in aqueous suspensions. At about 70°C, tribasic hydrate reacts with lead oxide to form tetrabasic sulfate. At 80°C, this transformation is complete in - 20 hours. Tetrabasic lead sulfate is used in limited quantities in Europe as a PVC stabilizer. However, in the United States, lead-acid batteries have been developed by BeU Telephone Laboratories, which contain tetrabasic lead sulfate. Such batteries are used for emergency power at telephone switchboard stations and have an anticipated service life of over 50 years. 

Some metals used as metallic coatings are considered nontoxic, such as aluminum, magnesium, iron, tin, indium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, tantalum, niobium, bismuth, and the precious metals such as gold, platinum, rhodium, and palladium. However, some of the most important poUutants are metallic contaminants of these metals. Metals that can be bioconcentrated to harmful levels, especially in predators at the top of the food chain, such as mercury, cadmium, and lead are especially problematic. Other metals such as silver, copper, nickel, zinc, and chromium in the hexavalent oxidation state are highly toxic to aquatic Hfe (37,57—60). 

The reduction of molybdate salts in acidic solutions leads to the formation of the molybdenum blues (9). Reductants include dithionite, staimous ion, hydrazine, and ascorbate. The molybdenum blues are mixed-valence compounds where the blue color presumably arises from the intervalence Mo(V) — Mo(VI) electronic transition. These can be viewed as intermediate members of the class of mixed oxy hydroxides the end members of which are Mo(VI)02 and Mo(V)0(OH)2 [27845-91-6]. MoO and Mo(VI) solutions have been used as effective detectors of reductants because formation of the blue color can be monitored spectrophotometrically. The nonprotonic oxides of average oxidation state between V and VI are the molybdenum bronzes, known for their metallic luster and used in the formulation of bronze paints (see Paint). 

The action of redox metal promoters with MEKP appears to be highly specific. Cobalt salts appear to be a unique component of commercial redox systems, although vanadium appears to provide similar activity with MEKP. Cobalt activity can be supplemented by potassium and 2inc naphthenates in systems requiring low cured resin color lithium and lead naphthenates also act in a similar role. Quaternary ammonium salts (14) and tertiary amines accelerate the reaction rate of redox catalyst systems. The tertiary amines form beneficial complexes with the cobalt promoters, faciUtating the transition to the lower oxidation state. Copper naphthenate exerts a unique influence over cure rate in redox systems and is used widely to delay cure and reduce exotherm development during the cross-linking reaction. 

Leaded Zinc Oxide. Oxides containing more than 5 wt % basic lead sulfate are classified as leaded and are made ia the American process from high lead materials, usually lead sulfide mineral, or by blending ziac oxide and basic lead sulfate. There is only one manufacturer ia the United States and the product contains 20—28 wt % basic lead sulfate. Leaded oxides are used only ia mbber ia the United States. 

The interaction of species in different oxidation states can lead to higher coordinated molecules (54,116). 

The primary routes of entry for animal exposure to chromium compounds are inhalation, ingestion, and, for hexavalent compounds, skin penetration. This last route is more important in industrial exposures. Most hexavalent chromium compounds are readily absorbed, are more soluble than trivalent chromium in the pH range 5 to 7, and react with cell membranes. Although hexavalent compounds are more toxic than those of Cr(III), an overexposure to compounds of either oxidation state may lead to inflammation and irritation of the eyes, skin, and the mucous membranes associated with the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Skin ulcers and perforations of nasal septa have been observed in some industrial workers after prolonged exposure to certain hexavalent chromium compounds (108—110), ie, to chromic acid mist or sodium and potassium dichromate. 

The net result is formation of water and a high concentration of free radicals. The cobalt cycles between the two oxidation states. Lead and 2irconium salts cataly2e drying throughout the film and are called through driers. Calcium salts show Httle, if any, activity alone, but may reduce the amount of other driers needed. 

Labeling. The typical labeling classification for frit may be followed by precautionary labeling for formulations containing lead oxide, free siUca, or cadmium oxide. Special labeling for shipment to specific locaUties may also be necessary to meet local and state requirements. 

Treatment of benzo derivatives with oxidizing agents leads to less predictable results. Thus, substituted 2,1-benzisoxazoles with nitrous acid or with CrOs/AcOH generated a variety of ring-opened products of higher oxidation state, the ratio of which depended on the amount of oxidant. These reactions are illustrated in Scheme 30. 

In all of these oxide phases it is possible that departures from the simple stoichiometric composition occur dirough variation of the charges of some of the cationic species. Furthermore, if a cation is raised to a higher oxidation state, by the addition of oxygen to tire lattice, a conesponding number of vacant cation sites must be formed to compensate tire structure. Thus in nickel oxide NiO, which at stoichiomen ic composition has only Ni + cations, oxidation leads to Ni + ion formation to counterbalance the addition of extra oxide ions. At the same time vacant sites must be added to the cation lattice to retain dre NaCl sUmcture. This balanced process can be described by a normal chemical equation thus... 

The measures of solid state reactivity to be described include experiments on solid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-solid chemical reaction, solid-solid structural transitions, and hot pressing-sintering in the solid state. These conditions are achieved in catalytic activity measurements of rutile and zinc oxide, in studies of the dissolution of silicon nitride and rutile, the reaction of lead oxide and zirconia to form lead zirconate, the monoclinic to tetragonal transformation in zirconia, the theta-to-alpha transformation in alumina, and the hot pressing of aluminum nitride and aluminum oxide. 

Fig. 7.10. The solid state reactivity of shock-modified zirconia with lead oxide as studied with differential thermal analysis (DTA) shows both a reduction in onset temperature and apparent increase in reaction rate. The shock-modified material has a behavior much like the much higher specific surface powder shown in B (after Hankey et al. [82H01]).

---