The correct answer is: A. Both A and R is true and, R is the correct explanation of A.
White lead is a lead carbonate pigment that was once widely used in paints. However, it is no longer recommended for use in iron works because it does not provide adequate protection against rusting. This is because white lead is a basic pigment, and iron is an acidic metal. When these two materials come into contact, the white lead reacts with the iron to form lead oxide, which is a salt. Lead oxide is not a protective coating, and it actually accelerates the rusting process.
Therefore, both assertion A and reason R are true. Additionally, reason R is the correct explanation of assertion A.