Tin

The atomic number of tin is 50.

It has 50 protons, 50 electrons and the most common isotope has 69 neutrons.

Its mass is 118.710 amu.

The symbol is Sn which comes from the Latin word for element, Stannum.

The name tin is thought to come from the Etruscan god Tinia.

It is found in Malaysia, Bolivia, Indonesia, Zaire, Thailand and Nigeria.

It melts at 505.08 degrees K and boils at 2875 degrees K.

Tin is in group 14 and period 5.

It is weak on its own, but very strong when mixed with copper to make bronze, lead to make solder or copper, bismuth and antimony to make pewter.

It costs about $4 per lb.

It crumbles at 13.2 degrees C.

It is 50th in abundance in the earth's crust. (What a coincidence! 50 is its atomic # too!)

It is often used to make pottery glaze.

Two things that are often thought to be made of tin are "tin" foil and "tin" cans. Foil is actually made of aluminum, and cans are made of steel.

Here is a photograph of my model of a tin atom. Here is the story the tin woman (the nucleus of the atom) tells:
I am the tin woman. You have probably heard of my brother, the tin man. He had no heart, but I do. Mine is made of fifty protons and sixty-nine neutrons. Around me are fifty electrons. They are flashing because scientists aren't exactly sure where they are. The tin man lived in the land of Oz. I am mainly found in ore deposits in Malaysia, Bolivia, Indonesia, Zaire, Thailand and Nigeria. A widely spread rumor about my brother is that he is very strong. That is untrue. He and I are weak unless we are mixed with other metals like copper to make bronze or lead and other metals to make pewter. My mass is 118.710. Please keep me out of extreme temperatures. I will melt at 505.08 K and boil at 2875 K. If I'm put in temperatures below about 13 degrees C, I will lose my shine and become crumbly white tin.

---

One of the most common ways people know about tin is because of the tin man. To see some different pictures of the tin man, click on one of the following: