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To: fireman15
On a standard car battery at the time of manufacture the negative plates are filled with lead oxide which is known as “red lead” and the negative plates are filled with lead dioxide also known as “spongy” lead. Basically the active materials absorbs sulfate from the acid during discharge and give up the sulfate while the battery is being recharged.

Not quite. The positive side is lead dioxide a/k/a "red lead". The negative side is "spongy lead," which is just finely divided lead metal. Discharge converts lead dioxide to lead(II) ions, acid to water, and lead metal to lead(II) ions. The lead(II) precipitates out as lead sulfate.

Charging does the reverse.

I've read that it's near impossible to make bullets from battery lead, because the acid is impossible to remove completely. The only thing battery lead is good for is to make new batteries.

68 posted on 12/02/2013 6:46:09 PM PST by Campion ("Social justice" begins in the womb)
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To: Campion
I've read that it's near impossible to make bullets from battery lead, because the acid is impossible to remove completely.

I'd think lead being molten white-hot would cover it.

69 posted on 12/02/2013 6:50:15 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month.)
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To: Campion

By the way, I really like your car. What is it?


70 posted on 12/02/2013 6:52:22 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves" Month.)
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To: Campion

I suppose the reason such easily verified information is being disputed here is because the discussion has been simplified somewhat for brevity. But when the battery is components are being manufactured the positive plates are filled with a paste made mostly of “red lead” which is lead oxide. The negative plates are filled with a paste made mostly of “spongy lead” which is another name for lead oxide. It is not “finely divided lead metal” Their are of course other additives mixed in to the pastes to help increase the life of the battery. If you don’t believe me I suggest you look it up.

It is nearly impossible to make bullets from “battery lead” because much of the battery is not made of lead. Lead is an element in the periodic table. It can be mixed with other metals to make alloys. Alloys are not formed by combining metals with acids. There is no metal alloy known as “battery lead” that I have ever heard of.

The real problem with trying to extract the lead from batteries full of oxides and sulfates is that they are far more toxic than lead itself. Lead poisoning is generally the result of contact with lead oxides.


71 posted on 12/02/2013 9:51:32 PM PST by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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To: Campion

Sorry you are right about the “spongy lead”. My last post has so many typos that I am confusing myself.


72 posted on 12/02/2013 9:58:01 PM PST by fireman15 (Check your facts before making ignorant statements.)
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