Lead was used at one time, but lead is poisonous. Children, especially, were poisoned by sucking on their pencils. So graphite was substituted for lead and works very well. Graphite may be superior to lead because it can be made with difference degrees of hardness. I do not know about the relative costs.
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Graphite is used in pencil leads because it is soft enough to leave a mark on paper but also hard enough to not break easily. It allows for smooth writing and can be easily sharpened to a fine point. Additionally, graphite is non-toxic and leaves a dark mark, making it ideal for use in pencils.
Unlike lead, graphite is not poisonous. It can made in various degrees of hardness and works very well for writing. It is not expensive. It is thus superior to lead which was once used.
The predecessor of the graphite pencil was the lead pencil, which used a mixture of graphite and clay for the core instead of just graphite. Lead pencils were first developed in the 16th century.
Graphite (carbon), wood and rubber for the eraser.
The graphite in a pencil is a form of carbon that is bonded together in layers. It is soft and easily leaves a mark on paper when pressure is applied. Graphite is the material that makes up the "lead" in a pencil, allowing for writing or drawing.
The factors that affect the conductivity of pencil lead include the quality of the graphite in the lead, the hardness of the pencil lead, and any impurities present in the lead. Higher quality graphite and softer leads typically have higher conductivity, while impurities can decrease conductivity. Additionally, the pressure applied when writing or drawing with the pencil can also impact conductivity.
Pencil "lead" is actually graphite, which is a nonmetallic element. Graphite is a form of carbon that is commonly used in pencils due to its ability to leave marks on paper.