Tin

In group IV, the main subgroup under the atomic number 50 is the chemical element tin, which belongs to the group of light metals.

Under normal conditions, a simple substance is plastic, malleable and fusible, with a silvery-white color. Tin forms three allotropic modifications

• below 13.2°C stable α-tin (grey tin);
• above 13.2°C stable β-tin (white tin);
• γ-Tin-white, in the temperature range 161°C-232°C (melting point), metallic, brittle.

Application area

Tin is mainly used as a safe, non-toxic, corrosion-resistant coating in the form of alloys with other metals. The main use of tin is in tinplate (tinned iron). It is used in the manufacture of food containers, in bearing alloys, solders for electronics, etc.

The most important tin alloys are bronze and pewter (used for making utensils).

High purity tin is used in fusible alloys with bismuth, antimony and lead for switching many semiconductor devices.

In medicine, tin is used to create some fillings.

Tin disulfide SnS ₂ is used in the composition of paints that imitate gilding ("potal").

Tin dioxide is a very effective abrasive material used in "finishing" the surface of optical glass.