Tin

Tin, chemical element, symbol Sn; for physical constants see Periodic Table. Tin was known to the ancients. It occurs in cassiterite, stannite, and tealite. The element is produced by reducing the oxide with coal in a reverberatory furnace. Tin is a silver-white, soft, malleable, ductile metal. It is resistant to corrosion and is used extensively for coating other metals. Tin exists in 2 forms: alpha (gray) and beta (white). Change to the unusable gray form, called tin pest, is prevented by the addition of small amounts of antimony or bismuth. Pewter, bronze, type metal, and soft solder are some important tin alloys. Stannous chloride is an important reducing agent. Tin and its compounds are used in electrically conductive coatings, dyeing, and super-conductive magnets.