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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Tin - Sn

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Tin is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Tin. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

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Overview of Tin

Tin's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Stannum
  • Czech: Cín
  • Croatian: Kositar
  • French: étain
  • German: Zinn - r
  • Italian: Stagno
  • Norwegian: Tinn
  • Portuguese: Estanho
  • Russian: Олово
  • Spanish: Estaño
  • Swedish: Tenn

Atomic Structure of Tin

Chemical Properties of Tin

Physical Properties of Tin

  • Atomic Mass Average: 118.71
  • Boiling Point: 2543K 2270°C 4118°F
  • Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: N/A
  • Conductivity
    Electrical: 0.0917 106/cm Ω
    Thermal: 0.666 W/cmK
  • Density: 7.31g/cc @ 300K
  • Description:
    Very malleable silver white metal that forms a protective oxide film on its surface that prevents it from reacting with oxygen.
  • Elastic Modulus:
    • Bulk: 58.2/GPa
    • Rigidity: 18.4/GPa
    • Youngs: 49.9/GPa
  • Enthalpy of Atomization: 301.3 kJ/mole @ 25°C
  • Enthalpy of Fusion: 7.03 kJ/mole
  • Enthalpy of Vaporization: 290.4 kJ/mole
  • Flammablity Class: Non-combustible solid (except as dust)
  • Freezing Point: see melting point
  • Hardness Scale
    • Brinell: 51 MN m-2
    • Mohs: 1.5
  • Heat of Vaporization: 295.8kJ/mol
  • Melting Point: 505.21K 232.06°C 449.71°F
  • Molar Volume: 16.31 cm3/mole
  • Optical Reflectivity: 54%
  • Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
  • Specific Heat: 0.227J/gK
  • Vapor Pressure = 5.78E-21Pa@232.06°C

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 7440-31-5
  • RTECS: XP7320000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Skin and/or eye contact
  • Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.38
    • Bone/p.p.m: 1.4
    • Liver/p.p.m: 0.23-2.4
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.33-2.4
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.2-3.5 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 20 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Known to ancient civilization
  • Discovery Location: Unknown
  • Discovery Year: Unknown
  • Name Origin:
    Symbol Sn from Latin: stannum (tin). Tin from Anglo-Saxon
  • Abundance of Tin:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 2.2
    • Seawater/p.p.m.:
      • Atlantic Suface: 0.0000023
      • Atlantic Deep: 0.0000058
      • Pacific Surface: N/A
      • Pacific Deep: N/A
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 100
  • Sources of Tin:
    Principally found in the ore cassiterite(SnO2) and stannine (Cu2FeSnS4) in Malaya and Indonesia, Zaire and Nigeria, Bolivia and Thiland. The pure metal is formed by reduction with coal. Annual world wide production is around 165,000 tons. Primary mining areas are Malaysia, Sumatra, Russia, China, Bolivia, Zaire.
  • Uses of Tin:
    Used as a coating for steel cans. Also in solder (33%Sn:67%Pb), bronze (20%Sn:80%Cu), and pewter. Stannous fluoride (SnF5), a compound of tin and fluorine is used in some toothpaste. It is also used in the manufacture of super conducting magnets. While tin has many uses in alloys, it has few uses in it's pure elemental form.
  • Additional Notes:
    Coefficient of linear thermal expansion/K-1 alpha 5.3E-6; beta 21.2E-6

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References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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