Question

Lead is unaffected by water because_______

Answer 1

Lead:

1. It is denoted by the symbol $\mathrm{Pb}$ and has the atomic number$=82$. It is a type of heavy metal that's denser than most other materials.
2. Lead is soft, malleable, and has a low melting point.
3. Metals form the metal oxide and hydrogen gas when they react with water. Water-soluble metal oxides dissolve further to generate metal hydroxide.
4. However, not all metals must react with water
5. Unlike other metals instead of interacting with water, Lead develops a protective oxide film when it comes in contact with it. Because lead has a very thin layer of Lead oxide on its surface, it does not react under normal circumstances. As a result, it is unaffected. $\underset{\mathrm{Lead}}{\mathrm{Pb}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Lead}\mathrm{oxide}}{\mathrm{PbO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Therefore, Lead is unaffected by water because of the formation of a protective oxide film.