Is PbCl2 Soluble In Water? (Lead Chloride)

Lead chloride is sparingly soluble in water.

In this article, you’ll learn everything about lead chloride and its solubility in water,

Is PbCl2 Soluble In Water? (Explained)

PbCl2/Lead Chloride Facts

Lead chloride is also known as Lead (II) Chloride or Lead Dichloride having the chemical formula PbCl2.

Lead chloride is a crystalline colorless and odorless compound but under certain environments, in others it’s a solid compound of white color.

It’s naturally found in the form of inorganic mineral ore, known as Contunnite.

The formation of lead chloride is possible in various ways, such as by the reaction of lead nitrate alongside hydrochloric acid or sodium chloride, or by the reaction of lead oxide alongside hydrochloric acid, or by the simple reaction of lead with chlorine.

Two chlorine atoms are bonded with one lead atom, having the bond angle of 98^o, having a bent structure.

Now, the electronic configuration of lead is 6s2 4f14 5d10 6p2, and the electronic configuration of chlorine is 3s² 3p⁵, so chlorine has one unpaired electron, thus it is an unstable state.

To maintain its stability, both atoms of chlorine share their unpaired electrons with lead and complete their octane.

The bonding of lead atom with both chlorine atoms is by sharing of electrons, thus the bonding between lead and chlorine is covalent.

Explaining “Solubility”

Solubility is the term used to define the phenomena of dissolving one substance into another.

Now, the component that is being dissolved is referred to as “solute,” and the component in which it is being dissolved is referred to as “solvent.”

If the solute dissolves in the solvent completely, it is soluble.

If the solute does not dissolve in the solvent completely then the solution is insoluble.

If the solute is very little soluble in the solvent, then the solution is sparingly soluble.

There are certain considerations on which the solubility of a substance depends.

Temperature, pressure, polarity, and molecular size are a few of those considerations.

Temperature is the most effective consideration when it comes to the solubility of a substance.

Temperature is directly proportional to solubility, thus when we increase the temperature the solubility will increase and vice versa.

The solution that is prepared after heating is called a supersaturated solution.

Solubility of Lead Chloride.

As we learned at the start lead chloride is sparingly soluble in water, but what factors are responsible for the insolubility of lead chloride in water?

According to Hard-Soft acid-base theory, there are two types of acids and bases.

Hard compounds are those who have high charge densities and are small in size, similarly, soft compounds are those who have low charge densities and are big.

Lead ion is in between hard acids and soft acids, which means it has lower charge densities and bigger size than hard acids and vice versa.

So, lead is a borderline acid, and a water molecule is a hard acid.

Now, hard-hard substances complement each other and soft-soft substances complement each other.

As lead is borderline acid and water is hard acid, so, the ions of lead do not break in the water molecule.

Now, lead is the main component of lead chloride, so that’s why it is not soluble in water.

However, in hot water, it may dissolve a little but still lead chloride does not dissolve in the water fully.

Hence, lead chloride is sparingly soluble in water.

Similarly, most of the carbonates, phosphates, hydroxides, sulfites, and oxalates are sparingly soluble in water.

Further, lead chloride is soluble in the compounds that contain chloride ions, such as Hydrochloric acid.

Other Facts To Know About Lead Chloride

Lead chloride is widely used in industries.

Such as, in the synthesis of lead titanate and barium.

Moreover, lead chloride is used in the making of aurene glass also known as ornamental glass and other uses.

Besides its uses, lead chloride is highly toxic.

Lead chloride is likely to produce cancer in human beings.

Cancer of organs such as lungs stomach, kidney, and brain.

It can also cause damage to the unborn child if a pregnant woman comes in contact with it without care.

There are plenty of other harms lead chloride can cause to humans.

It should be always handled with care.