Where exactly is the lead in lead crystal, and why is it not visible?
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You don’t see the sodium or potassium metal in glass either. It’s because they’re not free metals, but ions bound to other atoms. Ions have very different properties from their metallic counterparts, which is why sodium ignites in water, while sodium chloride (ordinary table salt) doesn’t.
Edit: fun fact, glasses that darken in sunlight contain silver ions, which temporarily turn into silver metal when subjected to light. The finely dispersed metal makes the glass look dark.
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