This change is affected by impurities such as aluminium and zinc, and can be prevented by small additions of antimony or bismuth. The conversion was first noted as growths on organ pipes in European cathedrals, where it was thought to be the devils work. Tin resists distilled, sea, and soft tap water, but is attacked by strong acids, alkalis, and acid salts. Oxygen in solution accelerates the attack. When heated in air, tin forms SnO 2 .
Tin is used as one component in bell metals.
Both values are quoted on the Pauling scale. For most elements, the most stable allotrope is illustrated. This section gives some data for naturally occurring isotopes. Copyright 1997 Mark Winter Department of Chemistry at the University of Sheffield , Sheffield S3 7HF, England.