Tin is a common metal that is used frequently in all kinds of household goods.
The plating on cans, foil, and utensils are some of the most common items made from tin.
It is an incredibly useful material and has been utilized since prehistoric times.
How To Identify Tin (Explained)
Facts About Tin
Tin, or Sn on the periodic table of elements, is a member of the carbon family.
In the wild, it is found in copper-tin alloys and must be extracted to be used in its purest form.
Ancient and prehistoric people used tin in its bronze state.
It was an incredibly common material used by the ancient Greeks, Mesopotamians, Israel, Peru, and in the Indus valley; it was especially common in the Mediterranean regions.
The Incans and Aztecs were the first to have fully operational tin mines.
Chemically, it is a valuable metal for its isotope stability, which means that it is not radioactive and renders it useful for a variety of environmental causes.
Plus, since it is so malleable, it is easy to work with, making it even more useful.
Since tin is such a common looking metal, it can be difficult to tell it apart from other metals.
Here are some ways to ensure that the metal you have is indeed tin and not something else.
Where was the tin found?
Tin is only found in nature as a bronze in a copper-tin alloy, which is a mixture of two or more metals.
Tin is never found in its pure form.
So, if you were the one to dig up the tin, notice whether you found it by itself or in combination with other metals.
If it was in combination, there’s a good chance you have tin.
What color is the tin?
In its purest form, tin has a silvery-white sheen with a bluish tint.
When found in its natural form as an alloy, it will look bronze.
If you have pure tin and it has a dark silver color or no blue tint, it is most likely not tin.
And, if you have the alloy, anything not as a bronze color most likely does not contain tin.
Does your tin change color after being chilled?
When tin is in warmer climates, 12°C or 56°F or higher, tin retains its silvery-white with hints of blue hue.
But, when it is chilled, the color changes to a dark grey.
Try putting your tin in the fridge for a few days.
If the color darkens, then you probably have tin.
However, keep in mind that this is a slow process, so putting in for just a couple of hours, nothing will happen.
But, if you keep it in the fridge for at least three days, that’s when the change will begin to occur.
Is the tin magnetic?
Tin is what is called paramagnetic, which means that it has a weak magnetic force.
This can be easily tested.
If you have a magnet and hold it up to the tin, it should be weakly attracted to it.
If it has either a strong attraction, no attraction, or is repelled, you know that the metal you have is not tin.
Does the tin float?
There are many light metals that float in water, and you may suspect that tin is one of those.
However, the density of tin is greater than the density of water, which means that it actually does not float.
So, you can do a simple float test.
Get a cup or bucket of water and drop the tin into it.
If it floats, then you know that it is definitely not tin.
But, if it sinks, then you may have a true piece of tin.
Does the tin melt?
If you have the proper tools to try and melt the tin, then this is a great test to do on the metal.
Tin has a low melting temperature of about 232°C, or 450°F.
If it melts before it reaches this temperature, then the metal that you have is not tin; the same goes for if it doesn’t melt until it gets hotter than that temperature.
Does the tin “crackle”?
Tin is composed of many different crystals.
When tin is bent, it produces a crackling sound from the crystals being crushed.
So, if you have a sheet of tin, try bending it.
If you hear crackling, then the tin may be genuine.
But, if no sound is produced, chances are that you have a different metal.
Do you have any hydrochloric acid lying around?
If you have any hydrochloric acid (HCl), you might try this simple test.
Touch the tin to iron and (carefully, using gloves) dunk it into the HCl.
This should create an oxidation-reduction reaction, where the iron is being reduced and the tin is being oxidized.
Therefore, the iron should bubble under the HCl if it’s touching the tin, and the tin will not bubble.
If this is successful, then you most likely have tin.
Remember, it’s important to know what metal you are dealing with
Tin is a very useful metal, but it can be easily mixed up with other metals.
Most commonly, confusion occurs with aluminum, another frequently used metal.
They are both flexible and light silver in appearance, but aluminum does not have the blue tint.
Aluminum also is not at all magnetic, so that is an easy test to perform.
Tin is also sometimes confused with iron.
The easiest way to tell the difference is that iron will rust, but tin doesn’t.
Tin and steel can be confused purely because they look similar, but they are easily distinguished by their texture; tin is soft and malleable, while steel is extremely hard.
If you have a tin object that you want to care for, like in jewelry or a decorative piece, it is important to understand how to properly care for it.
Tin is easily tarnished and difficult to clean, but there are steps to take to ensure that your tin retains its luster.
Toothpaste and a soft washcloth is a great way to remove tarnish, as is baking soda mixed with water or lemon juice.
Turpentine and nail polish remover are also effective substances for cleaning tin.
Avoid using abrasive materials like steel wool or the backside of a sponge, because tin is easily scratched.
Tin is a great material that is used for a multitude of common household items.
However, it can be tricky to spot, so be sure to use these tips to be able to identify and care for your possessions.
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