Sn
Tin
Element 50 · Post-transition metal
Tin (Sn)
Tin is a soft, silvery metal that resists corrosion. Alloyed with copper it makes bronze; today it is used mainly in solder.
- Post-transition metal
- Period 5
- Group 14
- p-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 118.71
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2
- Melting point
- 231.9 °C
- 505.08 K
- Boiling point
- 2,601.9 °C
- 2,875 K
- Density
- 7.287 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.96
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 217 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 7.344 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about tin
- 01
Tin has 10 stable isotopes — more than any other element.
- 02
Below 13 °C, white tin slowly crumbles into powdery grey tin, a change called “tin pest”.
- 03
Tin cans are actually steel cans with a thin tin coating.
Applications
What is tin used for?
- Solder for electronics
- Tin plating for food cans
- Bronze and pewter
- PVC stabilisers
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Year
c. 3500 BCE
Where
Known since antiquity
Name origin
Anglo-Saxon tin; the symbol Sn comes from Latin stannum.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 50
- Atomic mass
- 118.71 u
- Group
- 14
- Period
- 5
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 18, 4
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.96
- Electron affinity
- 1.2 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 217 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 10
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+4, +2).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st708.6
- 2nd1,411.8
- 3rd2,943
- 4th3,930.3
- 5th7,456
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 505.08 K · 231.9 °C · 449.5 °F
- Boiling point
- 2,875 K · 2,601.9 °C · 4,715.3 °F
- Density
- 7.287 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 27.112 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Silvery-white (beta, β) or grey (alpha, α)
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Tin questions
What is Sn on the periodic table?
Sn is the symbol for tin, element 50 on the periodic table. It sits in group 14, period 5, in the post-transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 118.71.
What is the atomic number of tin?
Tin has atomic number 50, so every tin atom has 50 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Sn and its atomic mass is 118.71.
Who discovered tin?
Tin has been known since antiquity (c. 3500 BCE); no single discoverer is credited. The name comes from Anglo-Saxon tin; the symbol Sn comes from Latin stannum.
What is tin used for?
Tin is used for: solder for electronics; tin plating for food cans; bronze and pewter; PVC stabilisers.
Is tin a metal?
Yes. Tin is a post-transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of tin?
The electron configuration of tin is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2. Its 50 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 4.