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Primary XPS region: Sn3d
Overlapping regions: Na KLL
Binding energies of common chemical states:
Chemical state | Binding energy Sn3d5/2 |
---|---|
Sn metal | 485.2 eV |
SnO | ~486 eV |
SnO2 | ~486.6 eV |
Oxides charge referenced to adventitious C1s peak at 284.8eV.
Symbol: Sn
Date of discovery: ancient times
Name origin: Latin stannum
Appearance: white
Discoverer: unknown
Obtained from: ore cassiterite
Melting point: 505.05 K
Boiling point: 2875 K
Density[kg/m3]: 7310
Molar volume: 16.29 × 10-6 m3/mol
Protons/Electrons: 50
Neutrons: 69
Shell structure: 2,8,18,18,4
Electron configuration: [Kr]4d105s25p2
Oxidation state: 4,2
Crystal structure: tetragonal
According to archaeological evidence, it is believed that people have been using tin for at least 5500 years, making it one of the earliest known metals. Comprising a small fraction of the earth’s crust, only about .001%, tin is obtained and extracted from the mineral cassiterite. There are two allotropes or forms of tin that occur at room temperature; one of them being gray (alpha) tin and the other white (beta) tin. Grey tin has few cases, while white tin is widely-used in coating beverage cans and in foils to inhibit rust. A large percentage of the world’s tin is extracted from placer deposits, with at least one-half of the world’s supply of tin coming from Southeast Asia.