Graphite in Pencils
The commonly referred to, 'lead pencil' has never in fact contained any lead yet is still to this day called that. This misunderstanding originated during the first discovery of graphite (estimated during the early 1500's) when chemistry was still primitive and the new found substance was believed to be a form of lead due to it's similar shiny silver colour. It was later in 1789 named by a German geologist graphite from the Ancient Greek word graphein (to write) due to it's already common use in pencils.
China is currently the leading producer of graphite in the world followed by several smaller suppliers such as India, North Korea and Sri Lanka.
China is currently the leading producer of graphite in the world followed by several smaller suppliers such as India, North Korea and Sri Lanka.