Element identity
Atomic number, symbol, relative atomic mass display and periodic position are established reference data.
Atomic / electronic model
Ground-state electron configuration and atomic reference values are compiled/evaluated data; orbital graphics are teaching probability models, not photographs.
Material / molecular structure
The displayed ordinary structure is based on established material or molecular science; simplified viewers are labelled as teaching schematics where exact crystallographic coordinates are not rendered.
Temperature / phase path
Transition values are reference/evaluated values for the stated teaching path; pressure, purity and allotropy can matter.
Geography
Real pins use reviewed place/dataset context. Conceptual layers are used when country pins would imply false occurrence, unsafe inventory or an incomplete global distribution.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Tin (Sn)
Tin is element 50, a soft Group 14 metal best known for corrosion-resistant coatings, bronze and solder. Its most memorable structural lesson is allotropy: ordinary metallic white tin can transform to nonmetallic grey tin at low temperature.
Tin atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Tin: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does tin have?
Tin’s atomic number is 50, so every tin atom has 50 protons, and a neutral atom also has 50 electrons. Its most common natural isotope, tin-120, has 70 neutrons (other isotopes have different neutron counts).
What is the symbol for tin?
The chemical symbol for tin is Sn.
Is tin a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Tin is a solid at room temperature (about 25 °C).
What family (group) is tin in?
Tin is a post-transition metal, in group 14, period 5 of the periodic table.
How many valence electrons does tin have?
Tin has 4 valence electrons, the electrons in its outer shell, which matches its position in group 14.
What is the electron configuration of tin?
The ground-state electron configuration of tin is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p².
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
Fifty protons define tin; neutral Sn also contains 50 electrons.
Four outer 5s/5p electrons connect tin to Group 14 chemistry.
The 5s²5p² pattern supports common +2 and +4 oxidation states.
Tin lies below germanium and above lead.
Tin can change solid crystal structure before it melts.
Tin in its period and family
Tin is in Group 14, Period 5, below germanium and above lead. Its four outer-shell electrons connect it to the carbon-group pattern, but metallic bonding, inert-pair effects and allotropy make tin very different from carbon or silicon.
Tin Visual Lab
Decode tin’s tile, rotate a ¹²⁰Sn teaching nucleus and a tetragonal β-tin cell, inspect occupied 5s and 5p probability models, and connect tin to cassiterite, bronze, solder, coatings, recycling and the low-temperature ‘tin pest’ transition.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Tin in one minute
Atomic number 50 means every tin nucleus contains 50 protons.
Neutral tin has the ground-state configuration [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p².
White β-tin is the ordinary metallic form near room temperature; pure tin can transform to grey α-tin below about 13.2 °C.
Tin’s common oxidation states are +2 and +4.
Cassiterite (SnO₂) is the principal tin ore; commodity production and recycling are separate from elemental occurrence.
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 18 · 4 electrons
The occupied 5s model is spherically symmetric and has four radial nodes in a hydrogen-like teaching approximation. The occupied 5p model has the p-orbital angular shape and three radial nodes; x/y/z controls change orientation, not the underlying p shape. These are isolated-atom probability models, not metallic electron paths.
White β-tin is tetragonal near room temperature (I4₁/amd); below about 286.35 K pure tin can transform slowly to grey α-tin. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The occupied 5s model is spherically symmetric and has four radial nodes in a hydrogen-like teaching approximation. The occupied 5p model has the p-orbital angular shape and three radial nodes; x/y/z controls change orientation, not the underlying p shape. These are isolated-atom probability models, not metallic electron paths.
Where do I meet tin?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Tinplate
A thin tin coating protects steel cans and other products from corrosion while keeping the strength of the steel substrate.
Tin pest: one element, two very different solids
Tin’s low-temperature allotrope change is a signature example of structure controlling material behavior.
Grey α-Sn
Below the equilibrium transition, pure tin can favor a diamond-type grey allotrope with very different properties.
Germanium, tin and lead: Group 14 becomes increasingly metallic
The ns²np² valence pattern continues down Group 14 while structure, metallic bonding and the inert-pair effect change substantially.
| Valence | 4s² 4p² |
|---|---|
| Context | metalloid / semiconductor |
| Valence | 5s² 5p² |
|---|---|
| Ordinary solid | β-Sn tetragonal |
| Oxidation | +2, +4 |
| Valence | 6s² 6p² |
|---|---|
| Context | heavy post-transition metal |
Tin properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 50 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | 118.710 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p² | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Group / period / block | Group 14 · Period 5 · p-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | 1.96 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Reference isotope | ¹²⁰Sn | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State context | Solid metal at 20 °C | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Density | 7.287 g/cm³ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Material / molecular structure | β-Sn · tetragonal | White β-tin is tetragonal near room temperature (I4₁/amd); below about 286.35 K pure tin can transform slowly to grey α-tin | Measured |
| Classification | Post-transition metal | Periodic-table / chemistry classification | Evaluated |
| Structure-model scope | White β-tin is tetragonal near room temperature (I4₁/amd); below about 286.35 K pure tin can transform slowly to grey α-tin | Teaching visualization; exact crystallographic coordinates are not implied unless stated. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting / transition reference | 505.078 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Boiling / gas reference | 2859 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Phase-path context | On this approximate standard-pressure teaching path for pure tin, grey α-tin is favored below about 286.35 K, metallic β-tin above that transition until melting at 505.078 K, liquid tin extends to about 2859 K, and gas lies above. The α↔β conversion can be kinetically slow and impurity-sensitive. | Shared phase registry drives the slider, regions and markers. | Evaluated |
| Condition warning | Temperature and pressure define phase behavior; purity/allotropy may matter. | Teaching condition statement | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary electrical behavior | Metallic conductor | Qualitative bulk behavior; exact resistivity depends on temperature, purity and alloy state. | Measured |
| Conduction model | Collective solid-state electrons | Do not interpret isolated-atom orbital clouds as literal current paths. | Reviewed |
| Surface / compound caveat | Oxides, salts and alloys can behave differently from the pure metal | Material context | Reviewed |
| Engineering values | Condition-dependent | Use condition-specific materials data for engineering calculations. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common oxidation states | +2 and +4 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ion / common ion context | Sn²⁺ / Sn⁴⁺ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Periodic chemistry context | Tin is in Group 14, Period 5, below germanium and above lead. Its four outer-shell electrons connect it to the carbon-group pattern, but metallic bonding, inert-pair effects and allotropy make tin very different from carbon or silicon. | Element-specific interpretation | Reviewed |
| Chemistry caution | Elemental form, ions and compounds are distinct chemical objects. | Interpretive teaching rule | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¹²⁰Sn | Stable · ≈32.6% natural abundance | The most abundant natural tin isotope; 50 protons and 70 neutrons. | Evaluated |
| ¹¹⁸Sn | Stable · ≈24.2% | The second most abundant natural isotope. | Evaluated |
| Tin isotope family | Ten naturally occurring stable/very-long-lived isotopes | Tin has an unusually rich natural isotope pattern; abundance values are evaluated reference data. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ¹²⁰Sn · 50 protons + 70 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
Is Tin a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
On this approximate standard-pressure teaching path for pure tin, grey α-tin is favored below about 286.35 K, metallic β-tin above that transition until melting at 505.078 K, liquid tin extends to about 2859 K, and gas lies above. The α↔β conversion can be kinetically slow and impurity-sensitive.
Where on Earth is Tin found or produced?
Who discovered Tin, and when?
Tin alloyed with copper made bronze, one of the materials that defined the Bronze Age.
Tin mining and trade remained strategically important, including long histories in Cornwall and Southeast Asia.
Tinplate, solder and float-glass technology expanded tin’s industrial roles.
Tin is used in coatings, alloys, electronics and specialty compounds while recycling contributes secondary supply.
From cassiterite to tin products: a high-level materials path
Tin is commonly sourced from cassiterite-bearing hard-rock or placer deposits; the exact geology varies by region.
Mining and mineral processing concentrate tin-bearing minerals before extractive metallurgy.
Smelting and refining produce tin metal to product specifications; this page intentionally stays at a high-level industrial overview.
Tin then enters coatings, alloys, solder and glassmaking, with recycled tin-bearing scrap contributing secondary supply.
What is tin used for?
Tinplate & coatings
Tin coatings help protect steel from corrosion in containers and other products.
Solder & electronics
Tin is a major component of many solders used to join electrical and mechanical components.
Bronze and other alloys
Copper-tin bronze and other tin alloys combine useful casting, strength and corrosion properties.
Float glass
Molten tin provides a smooth liquid surface on which flat glass can be formed.
Tin isotopes and natural abundance
¹²⁰Sn
Stable · ≈32.6% natural abundanceThe most abundant natural tin isotope; 50 protons and 70 neutrons.
¹¹⁸Sn
Stable · ≈24.2%The second most abundant natural isotope.
Tin isotope family
Ten naturally occurring stable/very-long-lived isotopesTin has an unusually rich natural isotope pattern; abundance values are evaluated reference data.
Five-question Tin check
What is tin’s atomic number?
What is the ordinary metallic allotrope near room temperature?
What is tin’s symbol?
What mineral is the principal tin ore?
What can happen to pure tin below about 13.2 °C?
Tin questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
Is tin an element?
Short answer: Yes. Tin is chemical element 50 with symbol Sn.
A tin can is mostly steel with a thin tin coating. The element itself also has two very different solid forms, so ‘tin’ is a useful reminder that one element can have more than one crystal structure. Cassiterite (SnO₂) is the principal tin ore; commodity production and recycling are separate from elemental occurrence.
Key point: Use the direct answer together with the material, isotope and evidence context shown elsewhere on the page.
What is tin used for?
Short answer: Major uses include tinplate coatings, solder, bronze and other alloys, and the float-glass process.
Tinplate & coatings: Tin coatings help protect steel from corrosion in containers and other products. Solder & electronics: Tin is a major component of many solders used to join electrical and mechanical components. A tin can is mostly steel with a thin tin coating. The element itself also has two very different solid forms, so ‘tin’ is a useful reminder that one element can have more than one crystal structure.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
What is tin’s electron configuration?
Short answer: The neutral ground-state reference is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p².
The neutral-atom ground-state reference used on this page is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p². This is an isolated-atom reference: bonding and ion formation can change which outer electrons are present or chemically active. The listed common oxidation-state context is +2 and +4, which helps connect the atomic configuration to ordinary chemistry without treating electron counting as a single universal rule.
Key point: Electron configuration is a ground-state atomic reference, not a literal picture of every compound.
Does tin tarnish or rust?
Short answer: Tin can oxidize and develop surface films, but “rust” properly refers to iron corrosion products, so tin does not rust in the strict chemical sense.
Tin exposed to air can form oxide-rich surface layers whose composition depends on environment and oxidation state. Such films can slow further attack in many ordinary conditions, which is one reason tin coatings have been useful for protecting other metals. Corrosion behavior still depends on moisture, contaminants, pH, temperature and whether the coating is damaged.
Key point: Use “tin oxidation/corrosion” or “tarnish” rather than iron-specific “rust,” and always keep the environment in the explanation.
Why is tin’s symbol Sn?
Short answer: Sn comes from the Latin name stannum.
Cassiterite (SnO₂) is the principal tin ore; commodity production and recycling are separate from elemental occurrence. Tin is in Group 14, Period 5, below germanium and above lead. Its four outer-shell electrons connect it to the carbon-group pattern, but metallic bonding, inert-pair effects and allotropy make tin very different from carbon or silicon.
Key point: The mechanism matters: connect the observed behavior to electron structure, bonding, phase or the specific material form rather than memorizing the result alone.
What is tin pest?
Short answer: It is the low-temperature transformation of metallic β-tin to grey α-tin in sufficiently pure tin; the rate depends strongly on temperature, purity and nucleation.
Tin pest Below about 13.2 °C, pure white β-tin can slowly convert to brittle grey α-tin. Impurities and kinetics strongly affect the transformation. White β-tin is the ordinary metallic form near room temperature; pure tin can transform to grey α-tin below about 13.2 °C.
Key point: Use the direct answer together with the material, isotope and evidence context shown elsewhere on the page.
Scientific sources for Tin
- Royal Society of Chemistry - Tin
- NIST - Atomic Data for Tin
- USGS - Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
- WebElements - Tin crystal structure
- RSC — Tin
Questions to ask next about Tin
A good element lesson should lead to the next useful question, not end after a list of facts.
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