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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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8y ago

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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.

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AnswerBot

10mo ago
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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.

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8y ago
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Q: Why is graphite used in making pencil leads?
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