Tin is a silvery-gray metallic element. The symbol is Sn, from the Latin stannum, and its atomic number is 50. Almost every continent has a source in the earth for tin. It is usually found in the form of cassiterite which is an oxide.
Tin is also widely used in the production of ornamentation. The metal has been used for many other purposes, such as coatings. Its high corrosion resistance make it an excellent choice for many applications. The major user of Tin worldwide has been in the canning industry. Tin cans, used for packaging food and drink, when made of steel sheet, are plated with a thin layer of tin.
Although the entire world production of tin is small in tonnage, the uses of this metal are of maximum importance and are more widely spread industrially than those of almost any other metal.
Tin is an important constituent of most solders and other alloys such as Babbitt metal and bronze. In addition to a wide range of manufacturing uses, the metal is also nutritionally necessary, albeit in trace amounts.