tin
tin metallic chemical element; symbol Sn [Lat. stannum ]; at. no. 50; at. wt. 118.69; m.p. 231.9681°C; b.p. 2,270°C; sp. gr. 5.75 (gray), 7.3 (white); valence +2 or +4. Tin exhibits allotropy ; above 13.2°C it is a lustrous, silver-white, highly crystalline metal with tetragonal structure. A brittle form with orthorhombic structure may exist above 161°C. Below 13.2°C pure tin tends to become a gray powder, a change commonly designated "tin pest" or "tin disease." Tin is very soft (only slightly harder than lead) and malleable; it can be rolled, pressed, or hammered into extremely thin sheets (tin foil). When iron or steel is dipped into molten tin, a layer of tin is deposited on the surface. A tin coating may also be applied by electroplating, which uses less tin. The tin serves to prevent rusting, since it is barely affected by moisture. The tin plate used in tin cans is an iron or steel sheet coated with tin. A tin coating is used to protect copper and other metals. Tin is a component of antifriction metal, bell metal, britannia metal, bronze, gunmetal, pewter, solder, and other alloys. Tin forms stannous compounds, in which it has valence +2, and stannic compounds, in which it has valence +4, as well as stannites, stannates, and other complex salts. Industrially useful compounds of tin include stannous chloride, important as a reducing agent, as a mordant in dyeing, and for weighting silk; stannic chloride, for the last two purposes and to stabilize perfume and color in soap; stannic oxide, for the preparation of white porcelain enamelware; and sodium stannite, a reducing agent. Stannous fluoride is added to toothpastes and water supplies to prevent tooth decay. Tin forms a number of toxic organometallic compounds that are used as fungicides, catalysts, and for other uses. Tin very rarely occurs uncombined in nature; the dioxide, which occurs as cassiterite, or tinstone, is the only ore of commercial importance. It is obtained chiefly from Bolivia, Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula, Congo (Kinshasa), and Nigeria. The tin mines of Cornwall, England, were formerly the principal source. The metal is prepared from cassiterite by heating in the reverberatory furnace. The ore from the mines is first given special treatment, and the "concentrates" thus obtained are mixed with coal in the furnaces. Tin was known and used by humans at least as early as the Bronze Age. The metal and its compounds were known and used by the alchemists. In 1673, Robert Boyle published a description of experiments on the oxidation (calcination) of tin. The metal was recognized as an element by Lavoisier.
|
|
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
tin
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology
|
1996
|
| © The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
tin white highly malleable metal. OE. tin = (M)LG., (M)Du. tin, OHG. zin (G. zinn), ON. tin :- Gmc. * tinam, of unkn. orig.
|
|
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
tin
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
|
2009
| © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information)
Copyright
tin
/ tin/
•
n.
1.
a silvery-white metal, the chemical element of atomic number 50.
(Symbol: Sn)
∎
short for tinplate.
2.
a metal container, in particular:
∎ chiefly Brit.
another term for tin can:
she had opened a tin of beans.
∎
a lidded airtight container made of tinplate or aluminum:
Albert got out the cookie tin.
∎ chiefly Brit.
an open metal container for baking food:
grease a loaf tin.
•
v.
(tinned
/ tind/ , tin·ning
) [tr.]
cover with a thin layer of tin:
the copper pans are tinned inside.
PHRASES:
have a tin ear
be tone-deaf.
|
|
Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.
|
