Tin (Sn)
Tin (Sn) is element 50, a post-transition metal. Atomic mass 118.71, configuration [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p². Properties, isotopes, oxidation states, uses and history, with an interactive 3D atom model.
Key facts
| Atomic number | 50 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Sn |
| Standard atomic weight | 118.710(7) |
| Category | Post-transition Metal |
| Group | 14 |
| Period | 5 |
| State at room temperature | Solid |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p² |
| Valence electrons | 4 |
| Common oxidation states | -4, +2, +4 |
| Common ions | No common ions |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.96 |
| First ionization energy | 709 kJ/mol |
| Electron affinity | 107.3 kJ/mol |
| Atomic radius | 145 pm |
| Density | 7.287 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 231.93°C |
| Boiling point | 2602°C |
| Specific heat | 0.227 J/(g·°C) |
Natural isotopes
- Sn-112: Stable
- Sn-114: Stable
- Sn-115: Stable
- Sn-116: Stable
- Sn-117: Stable
- Sn-118: Stable
- Sn-119: Stable
- Sn-120: Stable
- Sn-122: Stable
- Sn-124: Stable
Common uses
- Solder (electronics)
- Plating (steel cans)
- Bronze alloys
Where it matters
- Food Safety (Tin cans)
- Metallurgy (Bronze/Solder)
Hazards
- Organic tin compounds are toxic
- metal is non-toxic
History
| Discovered | Prehistoric (~3000 BCE) |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Ancient Civilizations (Bronze Age) |
| Name | Anglo-Saxon tin (Symbol Sn from Latin stannum) |