Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Lead dioxide - vinegar reaction?

khourygeo77 - 23-5-2017 at 14:06

What is the product of this reaction?

Is the reaction dangerous?

ninhydric1 - 23-5-2017 at 16:42

Lead dioxide and vinegar react to form lead(II) acetate, in the equation:

Pb2+ + 2 CH3COO−(aq) → Pb(CH3COO)2

As usual, working with lead salts is always dangerous, so the reaction could be considered as dangerous. Otherwise, the reaction isn't exothermic. Lead(II) acetate is sweet (the Romans used it to sweeten wine), but DON'T taste it. It's still toxic.

EDIT: Lead dioxide has lead in the +4 oxidation state and will form lead(IV) acetate, or lead tetraacetate. The equation shown above is incorrect.

[Edited on 5-24-2017 by ninhydric1]

DraconicAcid - 23-5-2017 at 18:49

Lead dioxide is PbO2, and has lead in the +4 oxidation state. Lead(II) oxide will react with acetic acid to give lead(II) acetate, according to PbO(s) + 2 CH3CO2H(aq) -> Pb(CH3CO2)2(aq) + H2O(l).


AJKOER - 27-5-2017 at 08:39

Per Wikipedia on PbO2 ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_dioxide):

"Because of the instability of its Pb4+ cation, lead dioxide reacts with warm acids, converting to the more stable Pb2+ state and liberating oxygen:[6]"

So, PbO2 with warm acetic acid expect Lead(ll) acetate and oxygen:

2 PbO2 (s) + 4 CH3CO2H (aq) -> 2 Pb(CH3CO2)2 (aq) + 2 H2O (l).+ O2 (g)


[Edited on 27-5-2017 by AJKOER]