It is usually produced using the following reaction, which leads to formation of the desired product as a solid precipitate: It has the same structure as the hydrogen phosphate PbHPO4.

[6] It was used mainly on apples, but also on other fruit trees, garden crops, turfgrasses, and against mosquitoes.

In combination with ammonium sulfate, it was used in southern California as a winter treatment on lawns to kill crab grass seed.

[7] The search for a substitute was commenced in 1919, when it was found that its residues remain in the products despite washing their surfaces.

[10] Lead arsenate was used as an insecticide in deciduous fruit trees from 1892[11] until around 1947 in Washington.