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What is Tin? Origin / Meaning of the name Tin
The name originates from
the
old Celtic word 'tinne' meaning 'bar of metal'. Tin was very
important in antiquity as it was a required substance in the
production of bronze. Bronze was made from about 85-95% copper
and 5-15% tin. A late Bronze Age shipwreck of a trading vessel,
discovered off the coast of Turkey, contained more than 300
copper bars and about 40 tin bars. These 'bars of metal' would
have been used in trade. The Greeks imported the metal from
Cassiterides, 'the tin islands', which are believed to be a
reference to Great Britain which had tin mines in Cornwall. An
important ore of tin is Tin oxide, called Cassiterite (SnO2).
The Cornish word for tin was 'stan'.
What is Tin? Origin / Meaning of the
symbol for Tin -
Sn
The symbol
for tin, Sn,
originates from
the Latin word 'stannum' means "to drip" in reference to to how
easily tin melts.
What is Tin? Periodic Table Group and Classification of the Tin Element
Elements can be classified based on their physical states (States
of Matter) e.g. gas, solid or liquid. This element is a solid. Tin
is classified in
the 'Other Metals' section which can be located in groups 13, 14,
and 15 of the Periodic Table. All of these elements are solid,
have a relatively high density and are opaque. Nearly 75%
of all the elements in the Periodic Table are classified as
metals which are detailed in the
List of Metals.
What is Tin?
Properties of Tin
Pure tin, called block tin, is a soft white metal with a
silver-like appearance and luster; it melts readily (235°) and
is somewhat lighter than copper, having a density of 7.3. It is
quite malleable and can be rolled out into very thin sheets,
forming tin foil; most tin foil, however, contains a good deal
of
Lead. Under ordinary conditions it is quite unchanged by air
or moisture, but at a high temperature it burns in air, forming
the oxide SnO2. Dilute acids have no effect upon it, but
concentrated acids attack it readily. For additional facts and
information refer to Tin
Properties.
Facts about the
Discovery and
History of the Tin
Element
Tin dates back to
antiquity. Used in bronze implements including weapons and tools as early as 3,000 BC. First
believed to have been mined in Cornwall in South-East England. Tin was
first smelted in combination with
Copper about 3000 BC to
produce bronze and brass. Tin is
one of the metals referred to as one of the 'Metals of
Antiquity'. The ancient 'Metals of Antiquity' together with
their approximate dates of discovery and use are
Gold (6000BC),
Copper (9000BC),
Silver (4000BC),
Lead (6400BC), Tin (3000BC),
Iron (1500BC) and
Mercury (1500BC).
What is Tin? Occurrence of the Tin Element
Tin is found in nature chiefly as the oxide (SnO2), called cassiterite or tinstone. Obtained chiefly from the
ore cassiterite.
About 35 countries mine tin.
What is Tin? Uses
of Tin
A large amount of tin
is made into tin plate by dipping thin steel sheets into the
melted metal. Owing to the way in which tin resists the action
of air and dilute acids, tin plate is used in many ways, such as
in roofing, and in the manufacture of tin cans, cooking vessels,
and similar articles.
Abundances of the element in different environments
% in Universe
4×10-7%
% in Sun 9×10-7%
% in Meteorites 0.00012%
% in Earth's Crust 0.00022%
% in Oceans 1×10-9%
% in Humans 0.00002%
Associated Uses of Tin
Coating for steel cans
Tin ceilings, signs, tiles, tin soldier, whistle, containers and
tin roofs
Tin oxide is used in dentistry as a polishing
agent for teeth and in some restorative procedures |
