Tin (Sn)
Post-transition metal · p-block · period 5 · group 14
Soft, silvery-white, malleable metal.
Tin (symbol Sn) is chemical element number 50, a post-transition metal in group 14, period 5 of the periodic table. Its standard atomic weight is 118.71 and its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2. At room temperature it is a solid. Alloyed with copper it makes bronze — the metal that named the Bronze Age.
Properties
| Atomic number | 50 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 118.71 |
| Category | Post-transition metal |
| Block | p-block |
| Group · Period | 14 · 5 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 18, 4 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 505.08 K |
| Boiling point | 2875 K |
| Density | 7.265 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.96 |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | primordial |
| Discovered | Known since antiquity · Known since antiquity |
Key facts about Tin
- Alloyed with copper it makes bronze — the metal that named the Bronze Age.
- A 'tin can' is really steel with a thin protective tin coating.
- In deep cold, ordinary white tin slowly crumbles to a grey powder ('tin pest').
- Bending a tin bar produces a faint crackling 'tin cry'.
What Tin is used for
Solder, tin-plating steel cans, bronze and pewter, float glass manufacture, chemical stabilisers.
Where it sits in the periodic table
Tin is in group 14, period 5, of the p-block. Its electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2 means its outermost shell holds 4 electrons, which is what places it here and explains much of its chemistry. See Tin on the interactive table →
Tin — frequently asked questions
What is Tin used for?
Solder, tin-plating steel cans, bronze and pewter, float glass manufacture, chemical stabilisers.
Is Tin radioactive?
No. Tin has at least one stable isotope and is not radioactive.
What is the electron configuration of Tin?
Tin has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2, which is 2, 8, 18, 18, 4 electrons per shell.
What group and period is Tin in?
Tin is in group 14, period 5, in the p-block. Its outer shell holds 4 electrons.
Who discovered Tin?
Tin has been known since ancient times.