Question

Give a balanced chemical equation to prepare lead sulphate from lead carbonate.

Answer 1

Lead sulphate can be prepared from lead carbonate in two ways. One way is by treating lead oxide, hydroxide, or carbonate with warm sulfuric acid or by treating a soluble lead salt with sulfuric acid which is the least preferred method. Another way is a two-step process using nitric acid and by forming lead nitrate as the intermediate which is the most commonly used method.

Complete step-by-step answer:
The process of formation of lead sulphate sulphate from lead carbonate is a two-step process.
i) First step is where the lead carbonate reacts with nitric acid to produce lead nitrate, water, and carbon dioxide.
ii) In the second step, lead nitrate which is produced in the first step is made to react with sulphuric acid to form lead sulphate and nitric acid.
Balanced chemical equation is as follows.
$PbC{O_3} + 2HN{O_3} \to Pb{(N{O_3})_2} + {H_2}O + C{O_2}$
$Pb{(N{O_3})_2} + {H_2}S{O_4} \to PbS{O_4} + 2HN{O_3}$

Additional information:
Lead sulfate is considered to be toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact. Repeated exposure may lead to anemia, kidney damage, damage to the central nervous system, or eyesight damage as it gets accumulated. It is also corrosive as contact with the eyes can lead to severe burns or irritation.

Note: Various examples of lead sulphate include $PbS{O_4} \cdot PbO,PbS{O_4} \cdot 2PbO,PbS{O_4} \cdot 3PbO,PbS{O_4}$ . Another method for preparing lead sulphate from lead carbonate is by reacting with sulphuric acid to directly produce lead sulphate, water, and carbon dioxide.
${H_2}S{O_4} + PbC{O_3} \to PbS{O_4} + {H_2}O + C{O_2}$. But this method cannot be used because the lead sulphate which is formed is insoluble and gets deposited on the surface of lead carbonate which makes the further formation of lead sulphate impossible.