General term normally referring to a basic carbonate of lead
Usually manufactured by placing strips of metallic lead in an environment rich in acetic and carbonic acid, lead white is chemically equivalent to the naturally occurring mineral hydrocerussite (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2). Lead white paints usually also contain cerussite (PbCO3). An extremely durable pigment, lead white has however a tendency to darken in contact with several other colourants, notably those containing sulphides (such as orpiment and mosaic gold).
