Question

Write a note on plumbosolvency?

Answer 1

As we know that plumbosolvency is basically the capacity of solvents especially water possessing the ability to dissolve metals at a particular pH. Water contains the dissolved air which helps in the dissolution of metals and may lead to the formation of a poisonous compound.

Complete Step by step answer: Let us know about the term plumbosolvency which is a phenomenon of dissolution of metal Lead into water as water has the ability to dissolve metals at a particular temperature. Water which is plumbosolvency can attack the lead pipes or lead service lines. Lead concentration is increased in water which passes through these lead pipes or lead lines making the water unfit for human and animal consumption and can lead to various health hazards because as we have learnt that lead is a very toxic metal.
Lead binds with oxygen in water molecules and results in the formation of Lead hydroxide which is a poisonous compound and this poisonous compound can damage human kidneys, lungs, reproductive system as well as heart functioning. We can show this reaction through equation as:

$2Pb + {O_2} + 2{H_2}O \to 2Pb{(OH)_2}$

This problem of plumbosolvency can be solved by increasing the pH of water to almost $8.0 - 8.5$so that it becomes less acidic and thus reduce the extent to which the lead can dissolve in water. It can be done by using lime or sodium hydroxide and even a protecting coating inside the lead pipes can be done using phosphate before releasing water into these pipes.

Note: Pure water cannot be attacked by Lead because pure water contains no oxygen. Hard water also has the least solubility for lead because lead is precipitated as an insoluble lead carbonate in hard-water.