Pb
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Lead is the heaviest member of the carbon family. The carbon family consists of the five elements in Group 14 (IVA) of the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other. Although a member of the carbon family, lead looks and behaves very differently from carbon.
Lead is one of only a few elements known to ancient peoples. One of the oldest examples of lead is a small statue found in Egypt. It was made during the First Dynasty, in about 3400 B.C. Mention of lead and lead objects can also be found in very old writing from India. And the Bible mentions lead in a number of passages.
Throughout history, Lead has been used to make water and sewer pipes; roofing; cable coverings; type metal and other alloys; paints; wrappings for food, tobacco, and other products; and as an additive in gasoline. Since the 1960s, however, there has been a growing concern about the health effects of lead. For instance, scientists have found that lead can cause mental and physical problems in growing children.
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