Sn 50

Tin (Sn)

post-transition-metal
Period: 5 Group: 14 Block: p

Solid

Standard Atomic Weight

118.71 u

Electron configuration

[Kr] 5s2 4d10 5p2

Melting point

231.93 °C (505.08 K)

Boiling point

2601.85 °C (2875 K)

Density

7287 kg/m³

Oxidation states

−4, −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4

Electronegativity (Pauling)

1.96

Ionization energy (1st)

Discovery year

N/A

Atomic radius

145 pm

Details

Name origin Named after Etruscan god, Tinia; symbol from Latin: stannum (tin).
Discoverers Known to the ancients.

Tin is a post-transition metal in group 14, known for its low melting point, resistance to ordinary corrosion, and ability to form useful alloys and coatings. It occurs chiefly as cassiterite, a tin dioxide mineral, and has been worked since antiquity, especially in bronze. Chemically it is less reactive than many base metals but readily forms compounds in the +2 and +4 oxidation states, with organotin chemistry being especially important and sometimes hazardous.

Ordinary tin is composed of nine stable isotopes; 18 unstable isotopes are also known. Ordinary tin is a silver-white metal, is malleable, somewhat ductile, and has a highly crystalline structure. Due to the breaking of these crystals, a "tin cry" is heard when a bar is bent.

The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon tin of unknown origin. The symbol Sn is derived from Latin stannum for alloys containing lead. The element was known in prehistoric times.

Archaeological evidence suggests that people have been using tin for at least 5500 years. Tin is primarily obtained from the mineral cassiterite (SnO2) and is extracted by roasting cassiterite in a furnace with carbon. Tin makes up only about 0.001% of the earth's crust and is chiefly mined in Malaysia. Two allotropes of tin occur near room temperature. The first form of tin is called gray tin and is stable at temperatures below 13.2°C (55.76°F). There are few, if any, uses for gray tin. At temperatures above 13.2°C, gray tin slowly turns into tin's second form, white tin. White tin is the normal form of the metal and has many uses. Unfortunately, white tin will turn into gray tin if its temperature falls below 13.2°C. This change can be prevented if small amounts of antimony or bismuth are added to white tin.

The Latin word for tin is stannum. Known to the ancients.

Images

Properties

Physical

Atomic radius (empirical) 145 pm
Covalent radius 139 pm
Van der Waals radius 217 pm
Metallic radius 142 pm
Density
Molar volume 0.0163 L/mol
Phase at STP solid
Melting point 231.93 °C
Boiling point 2601.85 °C
Thermal conductivity 66.8 W/(m·K)
Specific heat capacity 0.227 J/(g·K)
Molar heat capacity 26.99 J/(mol·K)
Crystal structure tetragonal

Chemical

Electronegativity (Pauling) 1.96
Electronegativity (Allen) 1.824
Electron affinity
Ionization energy (1st)
Ionization energy (2nd)
Ionization energy (3rd)
Ionization energy (4th)
Ionization energy (5th)
Oxidation states −4, −3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4
Valence electrons 4
Allotropes ["gray", "white"]
Electron configuration
Electron configuration (semantic)

Thermodynamic

Heat of fusion 0.07286107 eV
Heat of vaporization 3.067834 eV
Heat of sublimation 3.131057 eV
Heat of atomization 3.131057 eV
Atomization enthalpy

Nuclear

Stable isotopes 8

Abundance

Abundance (Earth's crust) 2.3 mg/kg
Abundance (ocean)

Reactivity

N/A

Crystal Structure

Lattice constant a 582 pm

Electronic Structure

Electrons per shell 2, 8, 18, 18, 4

Identifiers

CAS number 7440-31-5
Term symbol
InChI InChI=1S/Sn
InChI Key ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Electron Configuration Measured

Ion charge
Protons 50
Electrons 50
Charge Neutral
Configuration Sn: 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²
Electron configuration
Measured
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p²
Orbital diagram
1s
2/2
2s
2/2
2p
6/6
3s
2/2
3p
6/6
4s
2/2
3d
10/10
4p
6/6
5s
2/2
4d
10/10
5p
2/6 2↑
Total electrons: 50 Unpaired: 2 ?

Atomic model

Protons 50
Neutrons 70
Electrons 50
Mass number 120
Stability Stable

Isotopes change neutron count, mass, and stability — not the electron configuration of a neutral atom.

Schematic atomic model, not to scale.

Atomic Fingerprint

Emission / Absorption Spectrum

25 / 50 (50 with intensity)
Measured
Emission Visible: 380–750 nm

Isotope Distribution

12032.5800%11824.2200%11614.5400%1198.5900%1177.6800%1224.6300%1120.9700%1140.6600%1150.3400%Mass numberNatural abundance (%)
Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-life
112 Stable111.90482387 ± 0.000000610.9700%Stable
114 Stable113.9027827 ± 0.0000010.6600%Stable
115 Stable114.903344699 ± 0.0000000160.3400%Stable
116 Stable115.9017428 ± 0.000000114.5400%Stable
117 Stable116.90295398 ± 0.000000527.6800%Stable
118 Stable117.90160657 ± 0.0000005424.2200%Stable
119 Stable118.90331117 ± 0.000000788.5900%Stable
120 Stable119.90220163 ± 0.0000009732.5800%Stable
Measured

Phase / State

1 atm / 101.325 kPa
Solid 25 °C (298.15 K)

Reason: 206.9 °C below melting point (231.93 °C)

Melting point 231.93 °C
Boiling point 2601.85 °C
Below melting by 206.9 °C
0 K Current temperature: 25 °C 6000 K
Phase timeline

Schematic, not to scale

Solid
Liquid
Gas
Melting
Boiling
25°C
Solid
Liquid
Gas
Current

Phase transition points

Melting point Literature
231.93 °C
Boiling point Literature
2601.85 °C
Current phase Calculated
Solid

Transition energies

Heat of fusion Literature
0.07286107 eV

Energy required to melt 1 mol at melting point

Heat of vaporization Literature
3.067834 eV

Energy required to vaporize 1 mol at boiling point

Heat of sublimation Literature
3.131057 eV

Energy required to sublime 1 mol at sublimation point

Density

Reference density Literature
7287 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Current density Calculated
7287 kg/m³

At standard conditions

Atomic Spectra

Showing 10 of 50 Atomic Spectra. Sorted by ion charge (ascending).

Lines Holdings ?

IonChargeTotal linesTransition probabilitiesLevel designations
Sn I 022755226
Sn II +1215141215
Sn III +22590259
Sn IV +31800
Sn V +41300
NIST Lines Holdings →

Levels Holdings ?

IonChargeLevels
Sn I 0228
Sn II +177
Sn III +286
Sn IV +324
Sn V +426
Sn VI +537
Sn VII +62
Sn VIII +72
Sn IX +82
Sn X +92
NIST Levels Holdings →
50 Sn 118.71

Tin — Atomic Orbital Visualizer

[Kr]5s24d105p2
Energy levels 2 8 18 18 4
Oxidation states -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4
HOMO 5p n=5 · l=1 · m=-1
Tin — Atomic Orbital Visualizer Preview
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50 Sn 118.71

Tin — Crystal Structure Visualizer

Crystal structure data not available

Crystal structure: tetragonal

Ionic Radii

ChargeCoordinationSpinRadius
+44N/A55.00000000000001 pm
+45N/A62 pm
+46N/A69 pm
+47N/A75 pm
+48N/A81 pm

Compounds

Sn
118.710 u
Sn+4
118.710 u
Sn+2
118.710 u
Sn
112.905 u
Sn
125.908 u
Sn
116.903 u
Sn
118.903 u
Sn
109.908 u
Sn
120.904 u
Sn
122.906 u
Sn
117.902 u
Sn
113.903 u
Sn
111.905 u
Sn
126.910 u
Sn
110.908 u
Sn
127.910 u
Sn
114.903 u
Sn
119.902 u
Sn
124.908 u
Sn
115.902 u
Sn
121.903 u
Sn+4
116.903 u
Sn+4
124.908 u
Sn
123.905 u

Isotopes (9)

Mass numberAtomic mass (u)Natural abundanceHalf-lifeDecay mode
112 Stable111.90482387 ± 0.000000610.9700% ± 0.0100%Stable
stable
114 Stable113.9027827 ± 0.0000010.6600% ± 0.0100%Stable
stable
115 Stable114.903344699 ± 0.0000000160.3400% ± 0.0100%Stable
stable
116 Stable115.9017428 ± 0.000000114.5400% ± 0.0900%Stable
stable
117 Stable116.90295398 ± 0.000000527.6800% ± 0.0700%Stable
stable
118 Stable117.90160657 ± 0.0000005424.2200% ± 0.0900%Stable
stable
119 Stable118.90331117 ± 0.000000788.5900% ± 0.0400%Stable
stable
120 Stable119.90220163 ± 0.0000009732.5800% ± 0.0900%Stable
stable
122 Stable121.9034438 ± 0.00000264.6300% ± 0.0300%Stable
stable
112 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 111.90482387 ± 0.00000061
Natural abundance 0.9700% ± 0.0100%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
114 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 113.9027827 ± 0.000001
Natural abundance 0.6600% ± 0.0100%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
115 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 114.903344699 ± 0.000000016
Natural abundance 0.3400% ± 0.0100%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
116 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 115.9017428 ± 0.0000001
Natural abundance 14.5400% ± 0.0900%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
117 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 116.90295398 ± 0.00000052
Natural abundance 7.6800% ± 0.0700%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
118 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 117.90160657 ± 0.00000054
Natural abundance 24.2200% ± 0.0900%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
119 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 118.90331117 ± 0.00000078
Natural abundance 8.5900% ± 0.0400%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
120 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 119.90220163 ± 0.00000097
Natural abundance 32.5800% ± 0.0900%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable
122 Stable
Atomic mass (u) 121.9034438 ± 0.0000026
Natural abundance 4.6300% ± 0.0300%
Half-life Stable
Decay mode
stable

Spectral Lines

Showing 50 of 96 Spectral Lines. Only spectral lines with measured intensity are shown by default.

Wavelength (nm)IntensityIon stageTypeTransitionAccuracySource
556.19094 nm2700Sn IIemission5s2.6p 2P* → 5s2.6d 2DMeasuredNIST
579.88578 nm2700Sn IIemission5s2.5d 2D → 5s2.4f 2F*MeasuredNIST
558.88153 nm2600Sn IIemission5s2.5d 2D → 5s2.4f 2F*MeasuredNIST
645.35421 nm2500Sn IIemission5s2.6s 2S → 5s2.6p 2P*MeasuredNIST
452.47334 nm2200Sn Iemission5s2.5p2 1S → 5s2.5p.6s 1P*MeasuredNIST
533.23391 nm1600Sn IIemission5s2.6p 2P* → 5s2.6d 2DMeasuredNIST
607.97742 nm1400Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.6g 2GMeasuredNIST
684.41863 nm1300Sn IIemission5s2.6s 2S → 5s2.6p 2P*MeasuredNIST
719.07778 nm1100Sn IIemission5s2.6p 2P* → 5s2.7s 2SMeasuredNIST
666.11 nm1000Sn IIemission5s2.6d 2D → 5s2.6f 2F*MeasuredNIST
676.08103 nm840Sn IIemission5s2.6p 2P* → 5s2.7s 2SMeasuredNIST
656.851 nm830Sn IIemission5s2.9d 2D → 5s.5p.(3P*).5d 4P*MeasuredNIST
642.908 nm760Sn IIemission5s2.8s 2S → 5s.5p.(3P*).6s 2P*MeasuredNIST
723.005 nm670Sn IIemission5s2.7p 2P* → 5s2.8d 2DMeasuredNIST
690.47 nm538Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6d 3D → 4d10.5s.5f 3F*MeasuredNIST
731.417 nm500Sn IIemission5s2.7d 2D → 5s.5p.(3P*).6s 2P*MeasuredNIST
579.69075 nm490Sn IIemission5s2.5d 2D → 5s2.4f 2F*MeasuredNIST
707.93 nm485Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6d 3D → 4d10.5s.5f 3F*MeasuredNIST
738.71637 nm480Sn IIemission5s.5p2 2D → 5s2.6p 2P*MeasuredNIST
529.083 nm448Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
384.13749 nm440Sn IIemission5s2.6p 2P* → 5s2.8s 2SMeasuredNIST
536.929 nm421Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
601.34 nm419Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6s 1S → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
624.113 nm380Sn IIemission5s2.6d 2D → 5s2.9p 2P*MeasuredNIST
740.827 nm380Sn IIemission5s2.7p 2P* → 5s2.8d 2DMeasuredNIST
719.9 nm373Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.7p 3P* → 4d10.5s.7d 1DMeasuredNIST
507.26 nm360Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.7g 2GMeasuredNIST
429.433 nm340Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.9g 2GMeasuredNIST
433.013 nm309Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6s 3S → 4d10.5s.6p 1P*MeasuredNIST
502.038 nm302Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
534.881 nm271Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
563.16738 nm270Sn Iemission5s2.5p2 1S → 5s2.5p.6s 3P*MeasuredNIST
467.046 nm241Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 1P*MeasuredNIST
396.169 nm231Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6p 3P* → 4d10.5s.7s 3SMeasuredNIST
522.464 nm225Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6s 1S → 4d10.5s.6p 1P*MeasuredNIST
411.13 nm180Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.10g 2GMeasuredNIST
390.698 nm170Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 1D → 4d10.4f.5s 1F*MeasuredNIST
471.558 nm164Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 1P*MeasuredNIST
494.42561 nm150Sn IIemission5s2.5d 2D → 5s2.7p 2P*MeasuredNIST
510.022 nm145Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.5d 3D → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
458.025 nm140Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.8g 2GMeasuredNIST
614.96038 nm140Sn Iemission5s2.5p.6s 3P* → 5s2.5p.7p 3DMeasuredNIST
492.435 nm131Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6s 3S → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
457.432 nm120Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.10d 2DMeasuredNIST
487.7209 nm100Sn IIemission5s2.5d 2D → 5s2.7p 2P*MeasuredNIST
606.91169 nm95Sn Iemission5s2.5p.6s 3P* → 5s2.5p.7p 3PMeasuredNIST
457.553 nm91Sn IIemission5s2.4f 2F* → 5s2.10d 2DMeasuredNIST
461.82363 nm90Sn IIemission5s.5p2 4P → 5s2.6p 2P*MeasuredNIST
485.827 nm89Sn IIIemission4d10.5s.6s 3S → 4d10.5s.6p 3P*MeasuredNIST
491.78 nm83Sn IIemission5s2.7p 2P* → 5s2.11d 2DMeasuredNIST

Extended Properties

Covalent Radii (Extended)

Covalent radius (Pyykkö)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, double)  
Covalent radius (Pyykkö, triple)  
Covalent radius (Bragg)  

Van der Waals Radii

Bondi  
Batsanov  
Alvarez  
UFF  
MM3  
Dreiding  

Atomic & Metallic Radii

Atomic radius (Rahm)  
Metallic radius (C12)  

Numbering Scales

Mendeleev
Pettifor
Glawe

Electronegativity Scales

Ghosh
Miedema
Gunnarsson–Lundqvist
Robles–Bartolotti

Polarizability & Dispersion

Dipole polarizability  
Dipole polarizability (unc.)  
C₆  
C₆ (Gould–Bučko)  

Miedema Parameters

Miedema molar volume  
Miedema electron density

Supply Risk & Economics

Production concentration
Relative supply risk
Reserve distribution
Political stability (top producer)
Political stability (top reserve)

Phase Transitions & Allotropes

gray
Transition temperature286.35 K
Boiling point2859.15 K
white
Melting point505.08 K
Boiling point2859.15 K

Oxidation State Categories

−4 main
+2 main
−2 extended
−1 extended
0 extended
+3 extended
−3 extended
+4 main
+1 extended

Advanced Reference Data

Screening Constants (11)
nOrbitalσ
1s1.008
2p4.1146
2s13.1406
3d14.2583
3p17.6468
3s17.5802
4d32.03
4p28.7348
4s27.342
5p40.898
Crystal Radii Detail (5)
ChargeCNSpinrcrystal (pm)Origin
4IV69from r^3 vs V plots,
4V76calculated,
4VI83from r^3 vs V plots,
4VII89
4VIII95calculated,
Isotope Decay Modes (54)
IsotopeModeIntensity
99B+100%
99B+p5%
100B+100%
100B+p17%
101B+100%
101B+p21%
102B+100%
103B+100%
103B+p1.2%
104B+100%
X‑ray Scattering Factors (510)
Energy (eV)f₁f₂
103.97344
10.16173.94095
10.32613.90871
10.49313.87675
10.66283.84504
10.83533.81359
11.01063.7824
11.18863.75146
11.36963.72078
11.55353.64688

Additional Data

Sources

Sources of this element.

Tin is found chiefly in cassiterite (SnO2). Most of the world's supply comes from Malaya, Bolivia, Indonesia, Zaire, Thailand, and Nigeria. The U.S. produces almost none, although occurrences have been found in Alaska and California. Tin is obtained by reducing the ore with coal in a reverberatory furnace.

References (1)

References

(9)
2 Atomic Mass Data Center (AMDC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Sn

The half-life and atomic mass data was provided by the Atomic Mass Data Center at the International Atomic Energy Agency.

3 IUPAC Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (CIAAW)
Tin

Element data are cited from the Atomic weights of the elements (an IUPAC Technical Report). The IUPAC periodic table of elements can be found at https://iupac.org/what-we-do/periodic-table-of-elements/. Additional information can be found within IUPAC publication doi:10.1515/pac-2015-0703 Copyright © 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

4 IUPAC Periodic Table of the Elements and Isotopes (IPTEI)

The information are cited from Pure Appl. Chem. 2018; 90(12): 1833-2092, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0703.

License note: Copyright (c) 2020 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) contribution within Pubchem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.
5 Jefferson Lab, U.S. Department of Energy
Tin

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is one of 17 national laboratories funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The lab's primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atom's nucleus using the lab's unique particle accelerator, known as the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). For more information visit https://www.jlab.org/

License note: Please see citation and linking information: https://education.jlab.org/faq/index.html
6 Los Alamos National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy
Tin

The periodic table at the LANL (Los Alamos National Laboratory) contains basic element information together with the history, source, properties, use, handling and more. The provenance data may be found from the link under the source name.

7 NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory
Tin

The periodic table contains NIST's critically-evaluated data on atomic properties of the elements. The provenance data that include data for atomic spectroscopy, X-ray and gamma ray, radiation dosimetry, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics may be found from the link under the source name. Ref: https://www.nist.gov/pml/atomic-spectra-database

8 PubChem Elements
Tin

This section provides all form of data related to element Tin.

9 PubChem Elements
Tin

The element property data was retrieved from publications.

Last updated:

Data verified:

Content is reviewed against latest scientific data.