Lead is dense, bluish-gray metallic element that was one of the first known metals.
Metallic lead is a soft, malleable, ductile metal.
Lead ranks about 36th in natural abundance among elements in the earth's crust. Other sources of lead Lead was used by the Romans for making water pipes, soldered with an alloy of lead and tin. Lead ranks about 36th in natural abundance among elements in the earth's crust. Lead has many different uses, most importantly in the production of batteries. Because of its high density and nuclear properties, lead is used extensively as protective shielding for radioactive material.