Lead acetate trihydrate
[CAS# 6080-56-4]

Identification

• Classification: Organic raw materials >> Organometallic salt
• Name: Lead acetate trihydrate
• Synonyms: Lead(II) acetate trihydrate
• Molecular Formula: C₄H₆O₄Pb^.3(H₂O)
• Molecular Weight: 379.33
• CAS Registry Number: 6080-56-4
• EC Number: 612-031-2
• SMILES: CC(=O)[O-].CC(=O)[O-].O.O.O.[Pb+2]

Properties

• Melting point: 75 ºC
• Water solubility: 625 g/L

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07;GHS08;GHS09 Danger
• Hazard Statements: H302+H332-H302-H332-H360-H360Df-H373-H400-H410
• Precautionary Statements: P203-P260-P261-P264-P270-P271-P273-P280-P301+P317-P304+P340-P317-P318-P319-P330-P391-P405-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	1	H410
Acute hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Acute	1	H400
Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure	STOT RE	2	H373
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H332
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	1A	H360
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	1A	H360Df
Carcinogenicity	Carc.	2	H351
Serious eye damage	Eye Dam.	1	H318
Reproductive toxicity	Lact.	-	H362
Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure	STOT RE	1	H372
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	1B	H360
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	1B	H360Df

Discovory and Applicatios

Lead acetate trihydrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3H₂O. It consists of a lead(II) cation coordinated with two acetate anions and three water molecules of crystallization, forming a colorless to white crystalline solid that is soluble in water. Historically, it has been known as “sugar of lead” due to its sweet taste, although it is highly toxic and must be handled with extreme care.

The discovery of lead acetate dates back to ancient times. Early civilizations, including the Romans, prepared lead acetate by dissolving lead metal or lead oxide in vinegar (acetic acid), resulting in the formation of crystalline salts. Its sweet taste and solubility led to its use in food preservation, cosmetics, and dyeing processes, despite the health hazards not being understood at the time. Over time, chemists recognized its utility in chemical reactions, particularly as a reagent and precursor to other lead compounds.

Lead acetate trihydrate has several industrial and laboratory applications. It is used in the manufacture of pigments, such as lead-based paints and dyes, although many of these uses have declined due to toxicity concerns. In analytical chemistry, it serves as a reagent for detecting sulfides, forming characteristic black precipitates of lead sulfide (PbS). It also finds use in the preparation of other lead salts and coordination compounds in research and industrial chemistry.

Historically, lead acetate was employed in cosmetics, including hair dyes and skin-lightening preparations, because of its ability to darken hair and react with sulfur-containing compounds. However, due to its systemic toxicity, these applications have been largely discontinued, and regulatory agencies restrict its use in consumer products.

Industrial synthesis of lead acetate trihydrate is typically achieved by dissolving lead(II) oxide or basic lead carbonate in acetic acid, followed by crystallization from the aqueous solution. The trihydrate form is obtained naturally from the crystallization process. Because of the high toxicity of lead compounds, strict safety measures are required in handling, storage, and disposal, including avoiding inhalation, ingestion, and environmental release.

Lead acetate trihydrate exemplifies a compound with significant historical importance and versatile chemical reactivity, but it also serves as a cautionary example of the hazards associated with heavy metal exposure. Its continued use is mainly confined to controlled laboratory and industrial contexts, where its chemical properties can be exploited safely.

References

2025. Restoration of sperm quality in lead acetate-induced rats via treatment with Moringa oleifera leaf extract. Open Veterinary Journal, 15(1).
DOI: 10.5455/ovj.2025.v15.i1.37

2024. Pharmacological and biochemical insights into lead-induced hepatotoxicity: Pathway interplay and the protective effects of arbutin via the oral and intraperitoneal routes in silico and in vivo. International Immunopharmacology, 127.
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112968

2024. Annona squamosa Fruit Extract Ameliorates Lead Acetate-Induced Testicular Injury by Modulating JAK-1/STAT-3/SOCS-1 Signaling in Male Rats. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(10).
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105562