Lead(II) nitrate is a chemical compound, the inorganic salt of nitric
acid and lead. It is colourless crystal or white powder and a strong,
stable oxidizer. Unlike most other lead(II) salts, it is soluble in
water. Its main use from the Middle Ages, under the name plumb dulcis,
has been as raw material in the production of many pigments. Since the
twentieth century, it has been used industrially as a heat stabilizer
in nylon and polyesters, and in coatings of photothermographic paper.
Commercial production did not take place until the nineteenth century
in Europe, and in the United States until after 1943, with a typical
production process of metallic lead or lead oxide in nitric acid.
Lead(II) nitrate is toxic and probably carcinogenic to humans.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead%28II%29_nitrate
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1702:
Princess Anne became the queen of England, Scotland and Ireland.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_of_Great_Britain)
1782:
Almost 100 Native Americans in Gnadenhutten, Ohio died at the hands of
Pennsylvanian militiamen in a mass murder known as the Gnadenhütten
massacre.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnadenhütten_massacre)
1844:
Oscar I acceded to the throne of Sweden-Norway.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_I_of_Sweden)
1966:
Nelson's Pillar, a large granite pillar with a statue of Lord Nelson
on top in Dublin, Ireland, was destroyed by a bomb.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson's_Pillar)
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Wikiquote of the day:
Animals arrived, liked the look of the place, took up their quarters,
settled down, spread, and flourished. They didn't bother themselves
about the past — they never do; they're too busy. -- Kenneth Grahame
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kenneth_Grahame)