Tin-Discovery, Properties, And Applications

Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a silvery-white, soft, malleable, ductile metal that is not easily oxidized in air. Tin is widely used for coating other metals to prevent corrosion and for making alloys, such as bronze.

Property	Value
Name	Tin
Symbol	Sn
Atomic number	50
Relative atomic mass (Ar)	Block in the periodic table
Standard state	Solid at 298 K
Appearance	Silvery lustrous grey
Classification	Metallic
The group in the periodic table	14
Group name	(none)
Group in the periodic table	5
Period in the periodic table	p
Shell structure	2.8.18.18.4
CAS Registry	7440-31-5

Discovery

Tin has been known since ancient times. The earliest evidence of tin was found in the Tigris-Euphrates valley in Mesopotamia, where a bronze object made of copper and tin was found dating back to about 3000 BC.

Physical Properties

Tin is a silvery-white metal that is soft, malleable, ductile, and highly crystalline. It has a melting point of 231.9°C and a boiling point of 2,270°C. Tin has a density of 7.31 g/cm³, which is lower than that of most metals.

Chemical Properties

Tin is a highly reactive metal and readily reacts with oxygen to form tin oxide. It also reacts with hydrochloric acid to form tin chloride and hydrogen gas. Tin has a valence of +2 and +4 and forms compound with oxygen, halogens, and sulfur. It is a relatively non-toxic element and has no known biological function.

Facts

• The Latin name for tin is stannum, which is where its chemical symbol, Sn, comes from.
• Tin has ten stable isotopes, the most of any element.
• The world’s largest producer of tin is China, followed by Indonesia and Peru.
• Tin has been used for thousands of years to make bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin.

Applications

Tin is widely used in many applications, including:

• Coating other metals to prevent corrosion
• Making alloys such as bronze and pewter
• Soldering electronic components
• Making tinplate for food packaging
• Making organ pipes
• Adding to glass to create a reflective surface (mirrors)
• Adding to some dental materials.

Tin is an important element with a long history of use. Its physical and chemical properties make it valuable for many applications, from making alloys to coating other metals to prevent corrosion.