The History of Tin And Iron

Tracing the History of Tin and Iron It may no longer be possible to know who discovered tin. The metal has been around since the planet was formed. Archaeologists believe that it was first used in 3000 B. C. in the Bronze Age. General Characteristics The metal is silvery gray in appearance. Its atomic number is 50 and its symbol is Sn. The name is taken from stannum, a Latin word. It is grouped with other metals like aluminum and antimony. This metal can be found in certain places. The element appears in cassiterite, an oxide mineral. One has to extract tin from this mineral.

Uses The metal is used widely in manufacturing. It is commonly applied as a solder and for plating.

It is also used for producing floating glass, pipe organs and PVC stabilizers. Small amounts of tin are also considered a nutrient.

Etymology Its name was taken from a language that was probably pre-Indo-European. Its roots are not known, but it may be linked to Dutch and German words. But while no one knows for certain, there is no question it has been used a long time.

Historical Use Based on current research, tin has been utilized by humans for over five thousand years. It was actually one of the earliest metals to have been employed. There is evidence that it was alloyed to generate bronze. It may be the oldest alloyed metal in the world. As time went by, the metal was also used for making jewelry and ornaments.

People also started using tin for other purposes. The fact that it is very resistant to corrosion has made it ideal for coating. As time passed, it would be alloyed with various other metals.

Who Discovered Iron It is no longer possible to determine this. But it is certain that it has been used for thousands of years. There is evidence that it was used by the Sumerians and Egyptians on their weapons.

This was around 3,900 BC or perhaps even earlier.

There are indications that cast iron was being used in China since 500 BC. There is also the belief it was available very early on in India and other countries.

Today iron is a sought after metal. It is also very important for people. Great sources of this metal are vegetables, meat, tofu and beans. It is a very common element on the planet. It is also found in other parts of the universe.

References: http://www.whodiscoveredit.com/who-discovered-iron.html http://www.whodiscoveredit.com/who-discovered-tin.html