Watch how a lab mistake leads to creating lead sponge

Lead sponge, like other metal sponges, is a phenomenon where a metal reacts with a solution to create a soft sponge-like material, as YouTuber NileRed found out by accident.

Lead sponge can actually be used to make a decent lead sulfate battery. Here's a manufacturer's explainer on how to extend the life of these batteries through desulfation:

My accidental discovery of lead sponge