The Instrumentation Center

Tin

sn

About the Display:
  • Tin pieces; tin is a malleable crystalline silvery-white metal. When a bar of tin is bent, it makes a characteristic sound known as tin-cry (video below) due to deformation twinning in the crystal. A more scientific explanation can be found here.
  • A survival tin
  • The Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz*
  • A tin drum
  • A piece of tin
  • Replica tin cans  - most tin cans are actually made out of steel with a very thin sheet of tin hammered onto it. 
  • A tin anniversary tin rose - tin stands for 10 year anniversaries, the rose is very soft and can be bent easily.
*Fun fact: The actor originally cast to play the Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, had to leave the movie due to an allergic reaction to the Aluminum powder that was brushed over white clown makeup used on his face. The severe reaction landed Ebsen in the hospital in an Oxygen tent. Jack Haley replaced Ebsen in the production and the Aluminum powder was switched to an Aluminum paste.  

About the Contributor: Sara Doom is a University of Toledo chemistry alumna

sara

Back to the Periodic Table

 

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Symbol: Sn

Atomic Number: 50

Atomic Mass: 118.71 u

Electron Configuration: [Kr] 4d105s25p2

Year Discovered: ~3000 BCE

Discovered By: unknown!

Last Updated: 6/27/22