Lead oxide

Listing ID #3694872

Litharge, PbO, exists in a reddish alpha form up to 489 0C; it then transforms to a yellow beta form (massicot), which is stable at high temperatures. Lead oxides are produced industrially by thermal processes in which lead is directly oxidized with air. In the ball mill process, metallic lead balls are tumbled in air to produce a “leady” oxide, which typically contains 20 – 35% free lead. The Barton pot process oxidizes droplets of molten lead at ca. 430 0C to produce either litharge or leady litharge.