White lead

White lead is the basic lead carbonate 2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2. It is a complex salt, containing both carbonate and hydroxide ions. White lead occurs naturally as a mineral, in which context it is known as hydrocerussite, a hydrate of cerussite. It was formerly used as an ingredient for lead paint and a cosmetic called Venetian ceruse, because of its opacity and the satiny smooth mixture it made with dryable oils. However, it tended to cause lead poisoning, and its use has been banned in most countries. Basic lead carbonate is produced by treating lead acetate with carbon dioxide and air. In the laboratory procedure treats lead acetate with urea. It occurs naturally as the mineral cerussite. The compound has been characterized by X-ray crystallography, which confirms the formula. The structure is complicated, featuring two kinds of Pb(II) sites, those bonded to hydroxide and those bonded to carbonate and hydroxide.