Major use for lead?

Major use for lead?

• A. Electronics shields
• B. Storage batteries
• C. Construction materials
• D. Lubricants

Answer: (B)

Lead is most widely used in storage batteries, especially lead-acid batteries found in cars, trucks, and many backup or standby power systems. The chemistry of lead and lead dioxide plates with a sulfuric acid electrolyte makes a rechargeable, inexpensive, high-current battery, which is why this use dominates demand for lead. While lead can be found in shielding for x-ray and nuclear facilities or in some old construction materials, those applications are much smaller in scale today and subject to strict controls due to toxicity. Lead isn’t used as a lubricant in any major, ongoing way, so that option doesn’t fit as the major use.

Lead is most widely used in storage batteries, especially lead-acid batteries found in cars, trucks, and many backup or standby power systems. The chemistry of lead and lead dioxide plates with a sulfuric acid electrolyte makes a rechargeable, inexpensive, high-current battery, which is why this use dominates demand for lead. While lead can be found in shielding for x-ray and nuclear facilities or in some old construction materials, those applications are much smaller in scale today and subject to strict controls due to toxicity. Lead isn’t used as a lubricant in any major, ongoing way, so that option doesn’t fit as the major use.