: 3 Pb + 8 H⁺ + 8 -> 3 Pb²⁺ + 6 + 2 NO + 4 H₂O

When heated with nitrates of alkali metals, metallic lead oxidizes to form PbO (also known as litharge), leaving the corresponding alkali nitrite. PbO is representative of lead's +2 oxidation state. It is soluble in nitric and acetic acids, from which solutions it is possible