Lead sulfide

 

Lead sulfide

Chemical formula	PbS
OTP appearance	black solid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	239.3
Density(g/cc)	7.60
Melting Point(°C)	1118
Boiling Point(°C)	1281
NFPA 704	0 2 0

Uses

Primary

• Source of lead by smelting

Secondary

• Semiconductor
  • Natural detector
  • Natural LED
• Side product in acetic anhydride manufacture

Natural occurrence

• Occurs as the mineral galena

Character

Dominant species of PbS•PbSO4•PbO in an oxidizing environment at various temperatures
Temp (°C)	Species
<260	PbS
300	PbSO4
600	4PbSO4•PbO
800	PbSO4•2PbO
900	PbSO4•4PbO
1000	PbSO4•4PbO

Oxidation

More at Galena under smelting

Lead sulfide, when heated in an oxidizing environment, becomes lead sulfate. Lead sulfate, when heated, gives off sulfur dioxide, which may be useful in making sulfuric acid. The remaining lead (II) oxide may be carbothermically reduced to form elemental lead.