Tin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tin, ₅₀Sn

Tin
Allotropes	silvery-white, β (beta); gray, α (alpha)
Appearance	silvery-white (beta, β) or gray (alpha, α)
Standard atomic weight Ar, std(Sn)	118.710(7)
Tin in the periodic table
Hydrogen Helium Lithium Beryllium Boron Carbon Nitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Neon Sodium Magnesium Aluminium Silicon Phosphorus Sulfur Chlorine Argon Potassium Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron Cobalt Nickel Copper Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Krypton Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver Cadmium Indium Tin Antimony Tellurium Iodine Xenon Caesium Barium Lanthanum Cerium Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium Samarium Europium Gadolinium Terbium Dysprosium Holmium Erbium Thulium Ytterbium Lutetium Hafnium Tantalum Tungsten Rhenium Osmium Iridium Platinum Gold Mercury (element) Thallium Lead Bismuth Polonium Astatine Radon Francium Radium Actinium Thorium Protactinium Uranium Neptunium Plutonium Americium Curium Berkelium Californium Einsteinium Fermium Mendelevium Nobelium Lawrencium Rutherfordium Dubnium Seaborgium Bohrium Hassium Meitnerium Darmstadtium Roentgenium Copernicium Nihonium Flerovium Moscovium Livermorium Tennessine Oganesson Ge ↑ Sn ↓ Pb indium ← tin → antimony
Atomic number (Z)	50
Group	group 14 (carbon group)
Period	period 5
Block	p
Electron configuration	[Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 18, 18, 4
Physical properties
Phase at STP	solid
Melting point	505.08 K ​(231.93 °C, ​449.47 °F)
Boiling point	2875 K ​(2602 °C, ​4716 °F)
Density (near r.t.)	white, β: 7.265 g/cm3 gray, α: 5.769 g/cm3
when liquid (at m.p.)	6.99 g/cm3
Heat of fusion	white, β: 7.03 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization	white, β: 296.1 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity	white, β: 27.112 J/(mol·K)
Vapor pressure P (Pa) 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T (K) 1497 1657 1855 2107 2438 2893
Atomic properties
Oxidation states	−4, −3, −2, −1, +1, +2, +3, +4 (an amphoteric oxide)
Electronegativity	Pauling scale: 1.96
Ionization energies	1st: 708.6 kJ/mol 2nd: 1411.8 kJ/mol 3rd: 2943.0 kJ/mol
Atomic radius	empirical: 140 pm
Covalent radius	139±4 pm
Van der Waals radius	217 pm
Spectral lines of tin
Other properties
Natural occurrence	primordial
Crystal structure	​tetragonal white (β)
Crystal structure	​face-centered diamond-cubic gray (α)
Speed of sound thin rod	2730 m/s (at r.t.) (rolled)
Thermal expansion	22.0 µm/(m⋅K) (at 25 °C)
Thermal conductivity	66.8 W/(m⋅K)
Electrical resistivity	115 nΩ⋅m (at 0 °C)
Magnetic ordering	gray: diamagnetic white (β): paramagnetic
Molar magnetic susceptibility	(white) +3.1·10−6 cm3/mol (298 K)
Young's modulus	50 GPa
Shear modulus	18 GPa
Bulk modulus	58 GPa
Poisson ratio	0.36
Brinell hardness	50–440 MPa
CAS Number	7440-31-5
History
Discovery	around 3500 BC
Symbol	"Sn": from Latin stannum
Main isotopes of tin
Iso­tope Abun­dance Half-life (t1/2) Decay mode Pro­duct 112Sn 0.97% stable 114Sn 0.66% stable 115Sn 0.34% stable 116Sn 14.54% stable 117Sn 7.68% stable 118Sn 24.22% stable 119Sn 8.59% stable 120Sn 32.58% stable 122Sn 4.63% stable 124Sn 5.79% stable 126Sn trace 2.3×105 y β− 126Sb

Tin

Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn. Its atomic number is 50. This means each tin atom has 50 protons. Tin is found in Group 14 of the periodic table. It is not radioactive.

What is Tin Like?

Physical Features of Tin

Alpha(α) and beta(β) forms of tin

Tin is a shiny, silver-colored metal. It is quite soft and can be shaped easily. If you bend a piece of tin, it often makes a crackling sound. This sound is called "tin cry." Tin melts at 231.93 °C and boils at 2602 °C. It can melt easily if heated with a flame.

Tin can exist in two main forms, called allotropes:

• Beta-tin: This is the usual shiny, soft, and conductive metallic form. It is stable at warmer temperatures.
• Alpha-tin: This form is dull, brittle, and looks like a powder. It forms when very pure tin gets very cold.

When beta-tin changes into alpha-tin, it's called tin pest. This can be a problem because alpha-tin is not useful. Adding small amounts of other elements, like antimony or copper, can stop tin from changing into alpha-tin. These additions also make tin harder and shinier.

Tin can be mixed with other metals to create alloys. For example, mixing tin with copper makes bronze.

How Tin Reacts (Chemical Properties)

Tin is good at resisting many corrosive materials. Because of this, it is often used to protect other metals. Both salt water and fresh water do not harm tin.

Tin dissolves in strong acids, forming different tin salts. It also reacts with some strong bases.

Tin Compounds

Tin can form chemical compounds in two main ways. These are called oxidation states: +2 and +4.

• +2 compounds: These compounds can act as reducing agents. Some are clear, while others have colors. An example is tin(II) chloride, which is a white solid.
• +4 compounds: These compounds are generally less reactive. They often behave more like covalent substances. An example is tin(IV) oxide, which is a white solid.

When tin burns in air, it creates tin(IV) oxide. This is a white powder. Tin(IV) chloride is another interesting compound. It can be a clear liquid that gives off fumes, or a white solid when water is added to it.

• 

  Tin(II) chloride

• 

  Tin(IV) chloride with water

• 

  Tin(IV) chloride without water

• 

  Tin(IV) iodide

• 

  Tin(IV) oxide

• 

  Tin(II) oxide

Where is Tin Found?

You won't find pure tin metal lying around in the ground. Tin is usually found as a mineral called cassiterite. Cassiterite is a form of tin(IV) oxide. Often, cassiterite is found in streams or rivers, washed down from where it formed. Tin is also present in some more complex sulfide minerals.

Cassiterite, the main source of tin

Tin does not have any important role in the human body.

How We Get Tin

To get tin, cassiterite is heated with carbon in a special furnace. This process separates the tin metal from the oxide. China is currently the largest producer of tin in the world.

Tin's Story: From Bronze Age to Today

People discovered tin a very long time ago. They learned to mix it with other metals. When copper and tin are mixed together, they create bronze. Bronze was incredibly important in the past. It was one of the strongest metals available, making it perfect for weapons and tools.

The invention of bronze changed the world, starting what is known as the Bronze Age. Making tools from bronze was more complex than using rock and wood. This led to people organizing themselves more to produce these valuable items.

What is Tin Used For?

A plate made of pewter

Tin solder without lead

Tin has many important uses today:

• Solder: This is a metal alloy used to join electronic parts or pipes. Solder used to contain lead and tin. Now, lead is often removed because it is toxic.
• Pewter: This is an alloy made mostly of tin, with small amounts of copper and other metals. Pewter is used for decorative items like plates and mugs.
• Coatings: Tin is used to coat other metals, like lead and steel. This protects them from rust and corrosion. Tin-plated steel containers are commonly used to store food.
• Pipe Organs: The pipes in a pipe organ are often made of tin.
• Tin Foil: Before aluminium foil became common, tin foil was used to wrap food.
• Superconductors: Tin was one of the first materials found to be a superconductor. This means it can conduct electricity with no resistance at very low temperatures.
• Organotin Compounds: These are special compounds that contain tin and carbon. They are used in some PVC pipes to prevent them from breaking down. However, organotin compounds can be toxic.

Is Tin Safe?

Pure tin metal is not considered toxic to humans. However, some tin compounds can be harmful. They are especially toxic to marine life, like fish and other sea creatures. They can also be slightly toxic to humans.

Images for kids

• 

  Droplet of solidified molten tin

• 

  Ceremonial giant bronze dirk from the Bronze Age

• 

  Ball-and-stick model of stannous chloride

• 

  Sample of cassiterite, the main ore of tin

• 

  Candlestick made of tin

• 

  World production and price of tin

• 

  World consumption of refined tin by end use, 2006

• 

  Artisans working with tin sheets

• 

  A modern barn lantern made of punched tin

See also

In Spanish: Estaño para niños