Plumbates are formed by the reaction of lead(IV) oxide, , with alkali. Plumbate salts contain either the hydrated hexahydroxoplumbate(IV) or plumbate anion , or the anhydrous anions  (metaplumbate) or  (orthoplumbate). For example, dissolving  in a hot, concentrated aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide forms the potassium hexahydroxoplumbate(IV) salt . The anhydrous salts may be synthesized by heating metal oxides or hydroxides with .
The most widely discussed plumbates are derivatives of barium metaplumbate . When doped with some bismuth in place of lead, the material  exhibits superconductivity at 13 K. At the time of this discovery, oxides did not show such properties. The surprise associated with this work was eclipsed by the advent of the cuprate superconductors.