Question

Tetraethyl lead is a:

• A. solvent
• B. petroleum additive
• C. oxidising agent
• D. fire extinguisher

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

petroleum additive

Tetraethyl lead $(C{H}_{3}C{H}_2{)}_{4}Pb$ is a petroleum additive. TEL is produced by reacting chloroethane with a sodium–lead alloy:
$4NaPb+4C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}Cl\to (C{H}_{3}C{H}_2{)}_{4}Pb+4NaCl+3Pb$
The product is recovered by steam distillation, leaving a sludge of lead and sodium chloride. TEL is a viscous colorless liquid. Because TEL is charge neutral and contains an exterior of alkyl groups, it is highly lipophilic and soluble in petrol.