Tin

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Chemical element with symbol Sn and atomic number 50

Chemical element with symbol Sn and atomic number 50

Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn (from the Latin word stannum) and the atomic number 50. It is a soft, malleable, and silvery-white metal classified as a post-transition metal in group 14 of the periodic table.

Properties

Tin is known for the following physical and chemical properties:

• Low melting point (231.93 °C / 449.47 °F)
• High resistance to corrosion
• Easily forms alloys with other metals
• Exists in two main allotropes:
  • Beta-tin: metallic form, stable at room temperature
  • Alpha-tin: non-metallic, gray form that occurs below 13.2 °C

Occurrence

Tin is primarily extracted from the mineral cassiterite (SnO₂), which is found in:

• Southeast Asia (notably Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand)
• China
• Peru
• Bolivia
• Congo

Uses

Tin has a wide range of applications due to its chemical stability and non-toxic nature:

• Tin plating to prevent corrosion (e.g., in tin cans)
• Component in solder (typically mixed with lead or silver)
• Production of bronze (an alloy of tin and copper)
• Glass manufacturing (used in the float glass process)
• Electronics and automotive industries

History

Tin has been used by humans since ancient times, notably in the production of bronze during the Bronze Age. Its utility as a corrosion-resistant coating and as a soldering material helped drive industrial applications during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Isotopes

Tin is unique among elements in having 10 stable isotopes, more than any other element. Notable isotopes include:

• Tin-120 (most abundant)
• Tin-118
• Tin-116

Biological Role and Safety

Tin has no known essential biological role in humans. Organotin compounds, however, can be toxic and have environmental and health concerns, particularly those used in industrial and marine applications (e.g., tributyltin).

See Also

• List of chemical elements
• Cassiterite
• Bronze
• Solder