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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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10]) and dust deposition on interior surfaces is the major source of lead exposure to children; and c) the major source of lead contaminated soil is fallout from the past use of tetraethyl lead in gasoline. In this regard, McGrayne profiles Clair Patterson, who discovered that leaded gasoline was polluting the planet and spearheaded efforts to curtail the use of tetraethyl lead. Limited to t he twentieth century and a focus on lead-based paints and tetraethyl lead in gasoline, the study is divided into three parts. |
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