Tin information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its high purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Tin compounds sprayed onto glass are used to produce electrically conductive coatings. These have been used for panel lighting and for frost-free windshields. Most window glass is now made by floating molten glass on molten tin (float glass) to produce a flat surface. Crystalline tin-niobium alloy is superconductive at very low temperatures. This promises to be important in the construction of superconductive magnets that generate enormous field strengths but use practically no power. Tin is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.9999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. An important tin compound is the chloride, which is used as a reducing agent and as a mordant in calico printing.
The origin of the word tin comes from the Latin word Stannum which translates to the Anglo-Saxon word tin.
Tin is also used in various metal alloys (See AE Alloys).
Tin facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are
available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
Oxides are available in forms including powders and dense pellets for such uses  as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble. Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor deposition and in some optical coatings. Tin is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Tin is a Block P, Group 14, Period 5 element. The number of electrons in each of Tin's shells is 2, 8, 18, 18, 4 and its electronic configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2. In its elemental form tin's CAS number is 7440-31-5. The tin atom has a radius of 140.5.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 217.pm. Organometallic compounds of tin are very toxic and tin salts are also considered to be toxic. Tin as single atoms or molecules are not toxic.
 All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Tin compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Tin was first discovered by Early Man.
 Étain |
 Zinn |
 Stagno |
 Estanho |
 Estaño |
 Tenn |
Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of tin and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Sn-112 |
111.904821 |
0.97 |
| Sn-114 |
113.902782 |
0.65 |
| Sn-115 |
114.903346 |
0.34 |
| Sn-116 |
115.901744 |
14.53 |
| Sn-117 |
116.902954 |
7.68 |
| Sn-118 |
117.901606 |
24.23 |
| Sn-119 |
118.903309 |
8.59 |
| Sn-120 |
119.902197 |
32.59 |
| Sn-122 |
121.903440 |
4.63 |
| Sn-124 |
123.905275 |
5.79 |
The following table shows the abundance of Tin present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
200 ppb |
4 ppb |
| by Atom |
11 ppb |
0.04 ppb |
Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for tin metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Tin compounds are nesscessary, in minute amounts, in rats.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for tin (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
708.58 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1411.81 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
2943.07 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to tin's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured as to electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 11 μΩcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.96. The thermal conductivity of tin is 66.6 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties. The melting point and boiling point for tin are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
7.2 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
296.2 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
302 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for Tin
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE THUMB WITH A MODIFIED WRAP-AROUND FLAP IN A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM ß-THALASSEMIA MINOR.
Galeano M, Checcucci G, Ceruso M.
Hand Surg. 2011;16(3):361-5.
PMID:
22072476
[PubMed - in process]
Isolated complete volar dislocation of the capitate: a case report.
Checcucci G, Bigazzi P, Zucchini M, Ceruso M.
Hand Surg. 2011;16(3):353-6.
PMID:
22072474
[PubMed - in process]
Dielectrophoretic chip with multilayer electrodes and micro-cavity array for trapping and programmably releasing single cells.
Chuang CH, Huang YW, Wu YT.
Biomed Microdevices. 2011 Nov 10. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22072154
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Structures of medium sized tin cluster anions.
Wiesel A, Drebov N, Rapps T, Ahlrichs R, Schwarz U, Kelting R, Weis P, Kappes MM, Schooss D.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2011 Nov 9. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22071636
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Discrimination task reveals differences in neural bases of tinnitus and hearing impairment.
Husain FT, Pajor NM, Smith JF, Kim HJ, Rudy S, Zalewski C, Brewer C, Horwitz B.
PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26639. Epub 2011 Oct 31.
PMID:
22066003
[PubMed - in process]
A suggested technique for the application of the cone beam computed tomography periapical index.
Esposito S, Cardaropoli M, Cotti E.
Dentomaxillofac Radiol. 2011 Dec;40(8):506-12.
PMID:
22065800
[PubMed - in process]
(4-Chloro-3-nitro-benzoato)triphenyl-tin(IV).
Win YF, Choong CS, Teoh SG, Quah CK, Fun HK.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Sep 1;67(Pt 9):m1270-1. Epub 2011 Aug 27.
PMID:
22065496
[PubMed]
Bis{2-[(E)-(5-tert-butyl-2-hy-droxy-phen-yl)diazen-yl]benzoato}dimethyl-tin(IV).
Basu Baul TS, Paul A, Tiekink ER.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Oct 1;67(Pt 10):m1383-4. Epub 2011 Sep 14.
PMID:
22065466
[PubMed]
Chloridodiphen-yl{[1-(1,3-thia-zol-2-yl-?N)ethyl-idene]-4-phenyl-thio-semicarbazidato-?N,S}tin(IV) methanol monosolvate.
Arumugam SR, Dasary SS, Venkatraman R, Yu H, Fronczek FR.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Oct 1;67(Pt 10):m1409-10. Epub 2011 Sep 30.
PMID:
22065366
[PubMed]
catena-Poly[[triphenyl-tin(IV)]-µ-5-amino-2-nitro-benzoato-?O:O].
Win YF, Choong CS, Teoh SG, Quah CK, Fun HK.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Sep 1;67(Pt 9):m1276-7. Epub 2011 Aug 27.
PMID:
22064934
[PubMed]
Dual detection strategy for electrochemical analysis of glucose and nitrite using a partitionally modified electrode.
Wang J, Diao P, Zhang Q.
Analyst. 2011 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22064849
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
fac-(2-Amido-ethyl-?C,O)trichlorido(urea-?O)tin(IV).
Howie RA, de Lima GM, Tiekink ER, Wardell JL, Wardell SM.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Oct 1;67(Pt 10):m1420-1. Epub 2011 Sep 30.
PMID:
22064619
[PubMed]
Highly sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on electrospun copper oxide-doped nickel oxide composite microfibers.
Cao F, Guo S, Ma H, Yang G, Yang S, Gong J.
Talanta. 2011 Oct 30;86:214-20. Epub 2011 Sep 8.
PMID:
22063533
[PubMed - in process]
Cross-Linked Perylene Diimide-Based n-Type Interfacial Layer for Inverted Organic Photovoltaic Devices.
Hains AW, Chen HY, Reilly TH, Gregg BA.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2011 Nov 7. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22059439
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Bis-(chloro-acetato-?O)bis(trimethyl-silylmethyl)tin(IV).
Ding RF, Wang QB.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Sep 1;67(Pt 9):m1190. Epub 2011 Aug 2.
PMID:
22058841
[PubMed]
A new langbeinite-type phosphate: K(2)AlSn(PO(4))(3).
Li HY, Zhao D.
Acta Crystallogr E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Oct 1;67(Pt 10):i56. Epub 2011 Sep 20.
PMID:
22058680
[PubMed]
Enhanced resistance of yeast mutants deficient in low-affinity iron and zinc transporters to stannous-induced toxicity.
Viau CM, Cardone JM, Guecheva TN, Yoneama ML, Dias JF, Pungartnik C, Brendel M, Saffi J, Henriques JA.
Chemosphere. 2011 Nov 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22055569
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Allylsilanes in "Tin-free" Oximation, Alkenylation, and Allylation of Alkyl Halides.
Rouquet G, Robert F, Méreau R, Castet F, Landais Y.
Chemistry. 2011 Nov 3. doi: 10.1002/chem.201101842. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22052660
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Surface Modification of Indium-Tin-Oxide Via Self-Assembly of a Donor-Acceptor Complex: A Density Functional Theory Study.
Li H, Winget P, Bredas JL.
Adv Mater. 2011 Nov 3. doi: 10.1002/adma.201103009. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
22052626
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Minimally invasive video-assisted cardiac surgery: operative techniques, application fields and clinical outcomes.
Vistarini N, Aiello M, Viganò M.
Future Cardiol. 2011 Nov;7(6):775-87.
PMID:
22050064
[PubMed - in process] |
| Formula |
Atomic Number |
Molecular Weight |
Electronegativity (Pauling) |
Density |
Melting Point |
Boiling Point |
Vanderwaals radius |
Ionic radius |
Energy of first ionization |
| Sn |
50 |
118.69 g.mol -1 |
1.8 |
5.77 g.cm-3 at 20 °C |
232 °C |
2270 °C |
217.pm |
0.112 nm (+2) ; 0.070 (+4) |
708.58 kJ.mol-1 |
|
