Tin: An Interesting Element

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Tin is a relatively rare metal, comprising only about 2 parts per million of the Earth's crust. Yet it has been highly sought after since ancient times. The first important use for tin was in the manufacture of what substance? Bronze Paint Glass Steel

2. Copper is relatively plentiful in Europe and the Middle East, but deposits of tin are rare. From what modern day country did the ancients get most of their supplies of tin? Ireland Great Britain Norway Zimbabwe

3. At normal temperatures and pressures, tin exists in two forms: white tin and gray tin. When an element exhibits different physical and chemical properties, what are the different forms called? Allotropes Compounds Isotopes Crystals

4. Tin has the most stable isotopes of any element. How many stable isotopes does it have? 10 4 12 8

5. One of the most common uses of tin is coating steel containers for food. Why is tin used for this purpose? All of these Tin resists corrosion Tin easily bonds to iron and steel Tin is non-toxic

6. At very cold temperatures, objects made of tin will turn to powder. True False

7. Some metals are necessary in small amounts for the human body to fuction properly. These are called "trace elements" and include copper, zinc and selenium. What might happen if you ate a diet totally lacking in tin? Neither of these You could go blind Both of these You could develop anemia

8. If you were building a house in the 1890's, what part of the building might you have covered in tin? The roof The ceiling The floor The window sills

9. As we have seen, tin has been used to make a lot of things throughout the ages. Today most of the world's tin supply is used to manufacture what item? Solder Glass Pewter Toothpaste

10. Tin is a relatively scarce element. Are we likely to run out of it? Which situation most accurately describes the supply/demand situation when it comes to tin? Demand far exceeds supply Supply and demand are about equal Supplies of tin far exceed demand Demand slightly exceeds supply