Reactions
Red lead is virtually insoluble in water and in alcohol. However, it is soluble in hydrochloric acid present in the stomach, and is therefore toxic when ingested. It also dissolves in glacial acetic acid and a diluted mixture of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide.
When heated to 500 °C, it decomposes to lead(II) oxide and oxygen. At 580 °C, the reaction is complete.
- 2 Pb3O4 → 6 PbO + O2
Nitric acid dissolves the lead tetroxide component, leaving behind the insoluble lead(IV) oxide:
- Pb3O4 + 4 HNO3 → PbO2 + 2 Pb(NO3)2 + 2 H2O
With iron oxides and with elemental iron, lead tetroxide forms insoluble iron(II) and iron(III) plumbates, which is the basis of the anti-corrosive properties of lead-based paints applied to iron objects.
Read more about this topic: Lead Tetroxide
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