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Lead is a bluish-white lustrous metal. It is very soft, highly malleable, ductile, and a relatively poor conductor of electricity. It is very resistant to corrosion but tarnishes upon exposure to air.
The single most important commercial use of lead is in the manufacture of lead-acid storage batteries. Lead is also employed as protective shielding against X rays and radiation from nuclear reactors. It can be processed into sheet lead for construction purposes for example used as roofing material or flashings.
A significant quantity of lead is used in the manufacture of ammunition for sporting cartridges, pellets and bullets, and for addition to some steel and copper alloys to improve their machine ability. Lead is also used as counterbalance weights for lifts, cranes and for ballast in the boating industry.
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