Pb2+　plays　a　modifying　role　in　the　flotation　behavior　of　various　sulfide　and　oxide　minerals.　However,　there　is　currently　no　consensus　on　the　use　of　lead　salts　as　modifiers　in　mineral　flotation.　Based　on　previous　research,　this　article　provides　a　comprehensive　review　of　the　activation　effect　of　Pb2+　on　common　oxide　and　sulfide　minerals　flotation　from　the　perspective　of　interfacial　reactions.　A　theoretical　model　for　Pb2+　activation　has　been　proposed　in　this　article.　When　the　pH　is　less　than　7,　Pb2+　replaces　the　metal　atoms　in　the　lattice　of　sulfide　minerals　or　adsorbs　on　the　mineral　surface　to　form　PbS.　When　pH　is　in　the　range　of　7　~　10,　chemical　adsorption　of　Pb(OH)+　occurs　on　the　mineral　surface,　leading　to　the　formation　of　Me-O-Pb+.　When　pH　=　10　~　11,　Pb(OH)2　precipitates　on　the　mineral　surface.　Under　this　condition,　it　activates　the　flotation　of　quartz　but　inhibits　the　flotation　of　sulfide　minerals.　©　Society　for　Mining,　Metallurgy　&　Exploration　Inc.　2024.