From the Anglo-Saxon word tin . Tin's atomic symbol comes from the Latin word for tin, stannum . Archaeological evidence suggests that people have been using tin for at least 5500 years. Two allotropes of tin occur near room temperature. There are few, if any, uses for gray tin.
White tin is the normal form of the metal and has many uses.
This change can be prevented if small amounts of antimony or bismuth are added to white tin. Tin resists corrosion and is used as a protective coating on other metals. Tin cans are probably the most familiar example of this application. A tin can is actually made from steel. A thin layer of tin is applied to the inside and outside of the can to keep the steel from rusting.