Lead jgot its name from the Latin word plumbum, which means liquid silver, it is a chemical element that carries the symbol (Pb) in the periodic table of elements. Soft is a dull gray metal that darkens in the air due to the created protective layer of oxides and carbonates.

Lead is a shiny, soft and weak metal, it is easily rolled into a foil (lead foil) or pressed into a tube (lead pipe). Its melting point is quite low, at 327°C, and it boils at 1500°C, releasing toxic fumes, it is considered a weak technical metal, it is soft and conducts electricity poorly. It is corrosion resistant, insoluble in water, and soluble only in oxidizing acids. It is a very poisonous metal and its compounds are also poisonous if they are accidentally ingested.

Lead is the cheapest technical metal, right after iron and zinc. Lead is used to make pumps, pipes, cables, sheaths, accumulators, electric fuses, etc. Lead pipes are very good for making plumbing installations.

Lead has important applications due to its malleability, low melting point and good resistance to atmospheric corrosion.