Hydrocerusite is a mineral composed of lead carbonate. Its spelling, according to IPA phonetic transcription, would be: /ˌhaɪdrɵˈsɛrjuːsaɪt/ - hy-droh-SER-yoo-syt. The prefix "hydro" indicates the presence of water in its chemical composition, while "cerusite" comes from the Latin word "cerussa," meaning white lead ore. Hydrocerusite has a white, yellowish, or grayish color and can often be found in lead deposits. Its chemical formula is Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2.
The word "hydrocerusite" is derived from Ancient Greek and is composed of two parts: "hydro" and "cerusite".
The term "hydro" comes from the Greek word "hudōr" (ὕδωρ), meaning "water". In scientific words, the prefix "hydro-" is often used to indicate a connection to water or a hydrated compound.
"Cerusite" refers to a mineral species known as cerussite, which is a lead carbonate mineral. The name "cerussite" originates from the Latin word "cerussa", meaning "white lead", referring to its common color.
Hence, "hydrocerusite" is used to describe a hydrated form of cerussite, indicating that it contains water within its molecular structure.