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What the name means: The word lead probably comes from the Anglo Saxon word laedan. The symbol, Pb, derives from the Latin word for lead, plumbum.

Who identified lead? Lead was one of the first metals to be worked by man. Jewellery containing lead and dating from 6500BC has been unearthed in Turkey. The Romans mined lead in Iberia and used it to make pipes and pewter (an alloy of copper and lead). The alchemists saw lead as particularly significant because it was considered the “oldest metal”. They used it in complex recipes, often kept secret, in an attempt to make gold.

About lead: Lead can be extracted from the ore, galena (lead sulphide) although, nowadays, it is obtained from recycling processes. Until the late 20^th century it was used in pottery, pipes and even added to petrol to improve performance. Lead is now considered to be a health hazard and its use has been mostly discontinued. It is still used as a radiation protection and in some batteries.

Lead is a grey, soft and ductile metal that is not very strong. It is resistant to corrosion. Lead can be found as the element in nature but this is quite rare; it is extracted from its compounds from ores, such as galena.