Tin (symbol Sn, atomic number 50) is a soft metal used in solder, tin cans, and bronze. It is classified as a post-transition metal and sits in group 14, period 5 of the periodic table.
Overview
Tin is the chemical element with atomic number 50 and the symbol Sn. With a standard atomic weight of 118.71, it is a post-transition metal. In the periodic table it occupies group 14 and period 5, and under standard conditions it is normally a solid. Tin is a soft metal used in solder, tin cans, and bronze.
Atomic structure
An atom of Tin has 50 protons in its nucleus and, when neutral, 50 electrons arranged in the configuration [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2. Its standard atomic weight of 118.71 reflects the natural mix of its stable isotopes.
Discovery and place in the table
Tin has been known since antiquity. It follows Indium (In) and precedes Antimony (Sb) in order of atomic number.
| Atomic number | 50 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Sn |
| Atomic mass | 118.71 |
| Category | Post-transition metal |
| Group | 14 |
| Period | 5 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Discovered | Antiquity |