Monday, September 17, 2012

QOTD: Why is Lead's chemical symbol Pb?

Today's question was sparked while loading a mechanical pencil for handwriting work.

So the answer comes from the Greeks:  

Name: Lead
Symbol: Pb
Atomic Number: 82
Atomic Mass: 207.2 amu
Melting Point: 327.5 °C (600.65 K, 621.5 °F)
Boiling Point: 1740.0 °C (2013.15 K, 3164.0 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 82
Number of Neutrons: 125
Classification: Other Metals
Crystal Structure: Cubic Density @ 293 K: 11.34 g/cm3
Color: bluish

Facts  
Date of Discovery: Known to the ancients
Discoverer: Unknown
Name Origin: From the Greek word protos (first)
Symbol Origin: From the Latin word plumbum (lead)
Uses: solder and shielding against radiation, batteries
Obtained From: galena