Welcome to Lead
CLICK FOR 2021 CENSUS DATAIntroduction
Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin plumbum) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cut, lead is a shiny gray with a hint of blue. It tarnishes to a dull gray color when exposed to air. Lead has the highest atomic number of any stable element and three of its isotopes are endpoints of major nuclear decay chains of heavier elements. Lead is toxic, even in small amounts, especially to children. Lead is a relatively unreactive post-transition metal. Its weak metallic character is illustrated by its amphoteric nature; lead and lead oxides react with acids and bases, and it tends to form covalent bonds. Compounds of lead are usually found in the +2 oxidation state rather than the +4 state common with lighter members of the carbon group. Exceptions are mostly limited to organolead compounds. Like the lighter members of the group, lead tends to bond with itself; it can form chains and polyhedral structures. Since lead is easily extracted from its ores, prehistoric people in the Near East were aware of it. Galena is a principal ore of lead which often bears silver. Interest in silver helped initiate widespread extraction and use of lead in ancient Rome. Lead production declined after the fall of Rome and did not reach comparable levels until the Industrial Revolution. Lead played a crucial role in the development of the printing press, as movable type could be relatively easily cast from lead alloys. In 2014, the annual global production of lead was about ten million tonnes, over half of which was from recycling. Lead's high density, low melting point, ductility and relative inertness to oxidation make it useful. These properties, combined with its relative abundance and low cost, resulted in its extensive use in construction, plumbing, batteries, bullets and shot, weights, solders, pewters, fusible alloys, white paints, leaded gasoline, and radiation shielding. Lead's toxicity became widely recognized in the late 19th century, although a number of well-educated ancient Greek and Roman writers were aware of this fact and even knew some of the symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bones; it damages the nervous system and interferes with the function of biological enzymes, causing neurological disorders ranging from behavioral problems to brain damage, and also affects general health, cardiovascular, and renal systems.
Parish Information
Parish statistics
Area |
427 hectares |
|---|---|
Population |
566 (2021) |
Density |
133 people/km2 |
Mean age |
|
Ward |
Appleton Roebuck & Church Fenton |
District |
Selby |
Postcodes |
LS24 |
ONS ID |
E04007753 |
Council
Contact details for Lead Parish Council, including current councillors, precept data and election results.
Education
View educational establishments in Lead Parish. Data includes OFSTED rating and current appointed governors.
Business
Business directory listing local businesses operating within Lead Parish.
Property
Price paid data for all property sold in Lead Parish since 2018. Includes average prices for each property type.
Heritage
Local heritage sites, historic churches, heritage pubs plus local heritage initiatives for Lead Parish.
Local News
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Mark Selby crashes out to debutant Joe O'Connor at World Snooker Championship as upsets continue at Crucible
Published: 22nd Apr 2024
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World Snooker Championship 2024: Selby loses to debutant O'Connor
Published: 22nd Apr 2024
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World Snooker Championship results: Stuart Bingham through as Mark Selby crashes out
Published: 22nd Apr 2024