Question

What is the chemical formula for lead (IV) oxide?

Answer 1

Hint: Lead oxide is really harmful to human beings and it is also poisonous in nature. Lead oxide is widely used in matches, dyes and explosives as well. The (IV) in lead (IV) oxide suggests that the oxidation number of lead in lead (IV) oxide is 4, that is IV.

Complete answer:
The chemical formula for lead (IV) oxide is given by \[Pb{{O}_{2}}\] , in which there are two atoms of oxygen ( \[O\] ) and one atom of lead ( \[Pb\] ).
The (IV) in lead (IV) oxide is the oxidation number of lead, the oxidation number is positive so it is +4. One atom of oxygen takes up two electrons and thus two atoms of oxygen will take up four electrons, therefore one lead atom has to give four electrons to form a stable product.
Therefore the oxidation number of lead in lead (IV) oxide is +4.
The structural formula of lead (IV) oxide is shown below.

Lead (IV) oxide is also commonly known as lead oxide, plumbic oxide or anhydrous plumbic acid. The IUPAC name of lead (IV) oxide is dioxoplumbane. The bond between lead and oxygen atom shows both ionic and covalent character. Thus, the ionic character gives the compound its lattice structure and the covalent character gives the compound its low melting point and insolubility in water.

Note:
Lead oxide is a dark brown and odourless crystalline powder which is nearly insoluble in water. It exists in two crystalline forms, orthorhombic and tetragonal, the orthorhombic one is identified in nature as a rare mineral scrutinyite. It is a strong oxidizing agent which is used in manufacturing of matches, dyes and other chemicals. It is vastly used in positive plates of lead acid batteries.