lead acetate

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Lead acetate is a poisonous, soluble salt with the chemical formula Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3H₂O. It is a type of acetate of lead. Other related compounds include lead subacetate, a basic salt used in solution, and lead tetraacetate, a crystalline compound used as an oxidizing agent in organic synthesis. All these lead compounds are poisonous.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

lead
Compounds
…the +2 oxidation state is lead acetate, Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂, a water-soluble salt made by dissolving litharge in concentrated acetic acid. The common form, the trihydrate, Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3H₂O, called sugar of lead, is used as a mordant in dyeing and as a drier in certain paints. In addition, it is utilized in the…
Read More
…the +2 oxidation state is lead acetate, Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂, a water-soluble salt made by dissolving litharge in concentrated acetic acid. The common form, the trihydrate, Pb(C₂H₃O₂)₂·3H₂O, called sugar of lead, is used as a mordant in dyeing and as a drier in certain paints. In addition, it is utilized in the…
Read More

human sensory reception
Food choice
Lead acetate, sometimes called sugar of lead, once was used as a sweetening agent with disastrous results before its potentially fatal effects were discovered. Many palatable substances, including some synthetic sweeteners, are toxic.
Read More
Lead acetate, sometimes called sugar of lead, once was used as a sweetening agent with disastrous results before its potentially fatal effects were discovered. Many palatable substances, including some synthetic sweeteners, are toxic.
Read More