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Understanding the element
Tin (Sn) is chemical element 50. It belongs to the post-transition metals, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.
Where do we encounter it?
In practice, it turns up most often in solder, coatings and bronze.
soldercoatingsbronze
Standard atomic weight118.710(7)
What its position in the table tells us
Tin sits in period 5, group 14 and the P block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.
Worth remembering
Tin has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses
Tin has a characteristic place in the periodic table that helps explain both its chemistry and its practical uses