Recently, a tin-niobium alloy that is superconductive at very low temperatures has attracted interest. Biological Role Tin is non-toxic. Trialkyl and triaryl tin compounds are used as biocides and must be handled with care. General Information Tin is unreactive to water and oxygen, as it is protected by an oxide film. It dissolves in acids and bases.
Tin has two allotropic forms.
On warming, grey tin, with a cubic structure, changes into white tin, the ordinary form of the metal.