questions about lead: vaporization and solubility

[mr. benfield]

ok, so i have some questions for my fellow mad scientists.


specifically i am curious about lead206, the byproduct of polonium 210 decay.

do you think that a bic lighter produces enough heat to vaporize trace amounts of lead?

Once vaporized, would the lead be heavier than air of the same tempurature and sink to the bottom of the container?

Would vaporized lead be water soluble at all?

is lead 206 a stable isotope?


thanks for any information anyone can provide. i cant find this information elsewhere

[Ford Prefect]

Vaporize? Considering lead has a melting point of around 620 degrees and releases vapors at a progressive rate as the temp is increased...

I'd say no, not with a bic. And yeah, 206Pb is stable.

[incorporated]

I think in order for the vaporized lead to stay vaporized, it would have to remain at the aforementioned boiling point. So, something that hot is definitely going to, in turn, vaporize any water into which you attempt to dissolve it. At the point where the water could remain liquid, the lead would just be solid.

Edit: Just out of curiosity, why're you asking?

[mr. benfield]

well, im asking because tobacco contains polonium 210, and i was a smoker for a few years, and im concerned about lead buildup in lung tissue. So, i am curious as to how much of that lead and polonium in the tobacco was vaporized and put into my lungs. and also for a good while i smoked my tobacco through a water pipe, and was wondering if that could have helped absorb some of the bad stuff.

[stateofhack]

well, im asking because tobacco contains polonium 210, and i was a smoker for a few years, and im concerned about lead buildup in lung tissue. So, i am curious as to how much of that lead and polonium in the tobacco was vaporized and put into my lungs. and also for a good while i smoked my tobacco through a water pipe, and was wondering if that could have helped absorb some of the bad stuff.

you must be trolling me.
I will have no pity if your are:mad:

[mr. benfield]

hahaha, im no troll. what is troll like about that post? im serious

[mr. benfield]

no answers? no one? NO ONE?!

[Von Bass]

Your question is flawed, or at least it appears to be to me.

You're asking about whether it is possible for a bic lighter to vaporise lead, due to the fact that you fear there being deposits in your lungs. The lead that you're worrying about is due to the breakdown of polonium 210, which, I was under the impression doesn't have that shorter half life, and will therefore not be vaporised by the lighter, but formed once the polonium is in your lungs.

Furthermore, the lead-as-a-stable-by-product is pretty much the least of your worries. It, or more correctly, the claimed radioactive constituents, will have done plenty more relative damage by the time its in there, and really, the trace amounts of lead are less worrying than carbon monoxide poisoning and the tar in your lungs, and various other carcinogens brought about via combusted complex organic matter.

In short, unless you also happen to like melting down pots of lead with a blowtorch in your spare time in enclosed rooms whilst doing lines of mercury, I wouldn't worry about the lead.

[mr. benfield]

In short, unless you also happen to like melting down pots of lead with a blowtorch in your spare time in enclosed rooms whilst doing lines of mercury, I wouldn't worry about the lead.

thats all i needed

[Ford Prefect]

Maaan, I told you that in the first post.

Anyways, /thread.