Isolated metal atoms are actually very reactive compared to metal atoms bound in a bulk solid phase. It wouldn't surprise me if a lead atom would spontaneously react with gases in the atmosphere.

What you're describing is the Leidenfrost effect. When a liquid is in contact with a surface is that much higher than that liquid's boiling point, the liquid closest to the hot surface gets vaporized rapidly and that gas phase provides a cushion/barrier between the bulk liquid and the hot surface. It's not quite accurate to describe the hot metal surface as hydrophobic, but water will bead up similar to being on a hydrophobic surface.

The beading up is because water has strong cohesive forces and if the surface a droplet is in contact with isn't stronger than that cohesive force, either because water can't touch it as in the Leidenfrost effect or if it's hydrophobic, then the droplet will pull in on itself and try to be as spherical as possible. Gravity on Earth stops it from becoming a perfect sphere so that bead shape is the best it can do.

Also, it's generally the case that solubility of solid solutes increases with temperature, but it depends on the substance.

Some law enforcement has access to handheld/portable versions of chemical identification tools that have been historically restricted to laboratory use. Customs agents frequently use FTIR and Raman spectrometers but some have even portable mass spectrometers that they can use (relatively newer tools).

FTIR/Raman works by using light (infrared and visible respectively) to identify chemicals in a sample. Briefly, this works by looking at the 'color intensity' of the light that went in and looking at how much is missing in the light that goes through the sample. The color of light absorbed by a chemical depends on that chemical's structure. Most chemicals (when pure) can be uniquely identified by their FTIR or Raman spectrum (the spectrum is a graphical/numerical description of the colors that were absorbed and by how much from the sample).

How accurate it is depends on the sample. If the sample is pure, the technique is highly accurate. If its a mixture, it's going to depend on what the components are, how much of each there is, and what you're trying to look for. FTIR/Raman often struggle to specifically identify inorganics like minerals, but are very good at identifying organic compounds like cocaine and methamphetamine. FTIR/Raman also struggles with low concentration formulations. For example, if cocaine is present in a sample at less than 5% with other material such as lactose composing the majority of the sample, it may be difficult to identify by FTIR/Raman.

Often, law enforcement will use a variety of techniques to identify material to overcome the shortcomings of any one technique.

For the most part, the hand-held versions of these devices are designed to operate automatically - interpreting the data for the user and identifying it as accurately as it can. The device usually gives some indication of confidence or whether or not it's a mixture. It's important to note that the identifications from these devices are almost exclusively used as a presumptive analysis, meaning that confirmatory identification from a lab is necessary for any type of criminal charge. This means they can use it as presumptive cause to take some action like seizure or arrest.