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Pencils were never made with lead, they have always been made with graphite. When pencils were first made it was beleived that graphite was a type of lead, but science has now proven graphite is a type of carbon, not lead.
Well, i didn't want to delete this person's answer, but it is wrong. In fact, lead was used in pencils for hundreds of years, but there was a major problem with using lead. These pencils would form lead oxide on the tips, making it difficult to write, so when people wanted to write, they would lick the lead of the pencil to get the lead oxide off. When people realized that this was dangerous because consuming lead (even in minute quantities) can cause brain damage, pencils began to be manufactured with graphite instead of lead. Coming back to your original question - I don't know when they switched to graphite, but I think that it was sometime in the first half of the 20th century.
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LaoThe use of lead in pencils began to decline in the 19th century as other materials like graphite became more common. By the mid-20th century, most pencils were made with graphite and not actual lead. Lead pencils are no longer used due to health concerns associated with lead exposure.
Pencils never actually used lead. When Pencils were created after a tree was knocked down during a storm it revealed a large mass of black substance thought to be lead. When tested it turned out to be a carbon mixture. It was named graphite years later after the greek meaning "to write".
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What is the stuff in pencils?
lead
Do children with ADHD eat lead pencils?
No, children with ADHD do not have a specific preference for eating lead pencils. Pica, a condition characterized by persistent and compulsive consumption of non-food items, can occur in some children with ADHD or other developmental disorders, but eating lead pencils specifically is not a common behavior associated with ADHD.
Lead pencil do not have lead so why its call lead pencil?
Lead pencils used to contain lead. Now, graphite or a mixture of graphite and clay powder is used, but old habits die hard and some people still call them lead pencils. Also, even though lead has not been used in pencils for a long time, the paint on the outside contained lead until the middle of the 20th century. This was harmful for people who had a habit of chewing on their pencils.
Is galena used in pencils?
No, galena is not used in pencils. Pencils are typically made with a mixture of graphite and clay, not galena which is a mineral composed of lead sulfide. Lead, such as that found in galena, is toxic and not suitable for use in products like pencils.
Are pencils made out of lead?
No, they are made out graphite and clay. the only reason why they are called "lead" pencils is simply because way back in ancient greek times, they once used lead as a writing utencial. But after used a few times they quickly stopped the use of lead in pencils.
