Origin : The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon tin; the chemical symbol comes from the Latin ‘stannum’, related to the word ‘stagnum’ (dripping), because tin melts easily.
Description :
A soft pliable metal, but it is not used as such because, below 13°C, it slowly changes to a powder. Steel is plated with tin to make cans, and it is also used for solders. Certain tin compounds are used in anti-fouling paint for ships to prevent barnacles, but even at low levels these compounds can adversely affect some marine life, especially shellfish. Tin is thought to be an essential element for some living things and this may also be true for humans.
