Reactions

Lead(II) chloride reacts with chlorine to produce Lead(IV) chloride: PbCl2+ Cl2→PbCl4.

Preparation

Lead dichloride is precipitated by adding hydrochloric acid or any chloride salt solution to a cold solution of lead nitrate or other lead(II) salt: Pb2+ + 2Clˉ → PbCl2 Alternatively, it is prepared by treating lead monoxide or basic lead carbonate with hydrochloric acid and allowing the precipitate to settle..

Reactivity Profile

Lead dichloride is a weak reducing agent. Interaction of Lead dichloride and calcium is explosive on warming, [Mellor, 1941, Vol. 3, 369].

Hazard

Toxic effects from ingestion may vary from low to moderate. The oral lethal dose in guinea pigs is documented as 1,500 mg/kg. (Lewis (Sr.), R. J. 1996. Sax’s Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, 9th ed. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold).

Health Hazard

DUST AND FUMES. POISONOUS IF INHALED. SOLID: If swallowed, may cause metallic taste, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Fire Hazard

Not flammable. POISONOUS METAL FUMES MAY BE PRODUCED IN FIRE. Toxic metal fumes. Can emit toxic metal fumes.

Flammability and Explosibility

Notclassified

Potential Exposure

Used to make lead salts; lead chromate pigments; as an analytical reagent for making other chemicals; making printed circuit boards; as a solder and flux.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from distilled water at 100o (33mL/g) after filtering through sintered-glass and adding a few drops of HCl, by cooling. After three crystallisations the solid is dried under vacuum or under anhydrous HCl vapour by heating slowly to 400o. The solubility in H2O is 0.07% at ~10o, and 0.43% at ~ 100o.

Incompatibilities

A reducing agent. Violent reaction with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, and chemically active metals. Explosive with calcium 1 warming

Physical properties

White orthorhombic crystals; refractive index 2.199; density 5.85 g/cm3; melts at 501°C; vaporizes at 950°C; partially soluble in cold water (6.73 g/L at 0°C and 9.9 g/L at 20°C); KSP 1.17x10-5 at 25°C; moderately soluble in boiling water (33.4 g/L at 100°C); slightly soluble in dilute HCl and ammonia; insoluble in alcohol.

Definition

ChEBI: An inorganic chloride consisting of two chlorine atoms covalently bound to a central lead atom.

General Description

Prepared by reacting lead(II) oxide /acetate or carbonate with HCl. In crystalline PbCl2, each atom is coordinated by nine Cl atoms, six of which lie at the apices of a trigonal prism and the remaining three beyond the centers of the three prism faces. Each Cl is coordinated by four or five Pb atoms. Upon exposure to air it form basic chlorides such as PbCl2.Pb(OH)2.