What is lead acetate?
Lead(II) acetate, also known as lead acetate, lead diacetate, plumbus acetate, sugar of lead, sugar of lead, salt of Saturn, or Goulard's powder, is a white crystalline chemical compound with a slightly sweet taste. Its chemical formula is usually expressed as Pb(CH 3 COO) 2 or Pb (OAc) 2, where Ac represents the acetyl group. Like many other lead compounds, it is toxic.
Lead acetate is soluble in water and glycerin. With water, it forms the trihydrate, Pb(OAc)2·3H2O, which is a colorless or white floral monoclinic crystalline substance.
It is used as a reagent for making other lead compounds and as a stabilizer for some paints. In low concentrations, it is the main active ingredient in progressive types of hair color. Lead(II) acetate is also used as a drying agent in textile printing and dyeing and as a drying agent in paints and varnishes. Historically, it was used as a sweetener and preservative in foods and for cosmetics.
