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tetraethyl lead |
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tetraethyl lead (tĕt'rəĕth`əl), (C2H5)4Pb, viscous, colorless, poisonous liquid. It is an organometallic compound prepared by reacting ethyl chloride with a sodium-lead alloy. When added to gasoline, it improves the combustion characteristics (see octane number octane number, figure of merit representing the resistance of gasoline to premature detonation when exposed to heat and pressure in the combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine. ..... Click the link for more information. ). When tetraethyl lead burns in an engine, lead oxide is formed. Ethylene dibromide is usually also added to the gasoline; on burning, the resulting mixture forms products that react with the lead oxide to form lead bromide, a volatile compound that escapes from the engine with other exhausted products. Because the lead bromide is poisonous, lead-free gasolines are required in the United States. An additional reason for lead-free gas is that the lead in the exhaust pipe would poison the catalytic converter that is standard equipment for U.S. cars. Catalytic converters which serve to oxidize unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides contain platinum group metals that are inactivated by lead. tetraethyl lead a colourless oily insoluble liquid used in petrol to prevent knocking. Formula: Pb(C2H5)4 How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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However systems of this type have not yet been utilized in practice, except that lead tetraethyl has been used to modify the preignition knocking phenomena of internal combustion systems. |
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