Lead can sometimes be found as a pure metal, but more often it is found combined with other substances. When useful amounts of lead are found in a rock it is called an ore. To extract the lead, the ore is heated strongly and the molten lead flows out of it.

Lead does not change (corrode) easily in air and can be hammered into flat sheets. Lead is used in car batteries. Sheets of lead are placed in a container with an acid. This kind of battery cannot make electricity for itself and a car battery has to be charged up before it will work. But it can be recharged while the car is running, and it is this property that makes it so useful in cars.