Iron vs. Tin — What's the Difference?

An essential element in steel production, enhancing durability and versatility.

Non-toxic and non-magnetic, suitable for food-grade materials and coatings.

Historically significant for its role in the Iron Age, advancing technology and society.

Less abundant than iron, extracted mainly from mineral cassiterite.

Magnetic properties make it valuable in electrical and technological applications.

Utilized in solder for electronics, highlighting its low melting point.

A strong, magnetic metal crucial for construction and manufacturing.

Played a key role in the Bronze Age through its alloy with copper.

Found abundantly in the Earth's crust, vital for various industries.

A soft, corrosion-resistant metal often used for coating steel.

Iron () is a chemical element with symbol Fe (from Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table.

Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn (from Latin: stannum) and atomic number 50. Tin is a silvery metal that characteristically has a faint yellow hue.

Symbol Fe A silvery-white, lustrous, malleable, ductile, magnetic or magnetizable, metallic element occurring abundantly in combined forms, notably in hematite, limonite, magnetite, and taconite, and used alloyed in a wide range of important structural materials. Atomic number 26; atomic weight 55.845; melting point 1,538°C; boiling point 2,861°C; specific gravity 7.874 (at 20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 6. See Periodic Table.

Symbol Sn A crystalline, silvery metallic element obtained chiefly from cassiterite, and having two notable allotropic forms. Malleable white tin is the useful allotrope, but at temperatures below 13.2°C it slowly converts to the brittle gray allotrope. Tin is used to coat other metals to prevent corrosion and is a part of numerous alloys, such as soft solder, pewter, type metal, and bronze. Atomic number 50; atomic weight 118.71; melting point 231.93°C; boiling point 2,602°C; specific gravity (gray) 5.77, (white) 7.29; valence 2, 4. See Periodic Table.

An implement made of iron alloy or similar metal, especially a bar heated for use in branding, curling hair, or cauterizing.

Tin plate.

Great hardness or strength; firmness

A container or box made of tin plate.

(Sports) Any of a series of golf clubs having a bladelike metal head and numbered from one to nine in order of increasing loft.

A container for preserved foodstuffs; a can.

A metal appliance with a handle and a weighted flat bottom, used when heated to press wrinkles from fabric.

The contents of such a container.

A harpoon.

To plate or coat with tin.

Irons Fetters; shackles.

Chiefly British To preserve or pack in tins; can.

A tonic, pill, or other medication containing iron and taken as a dietary supplement.

Of, relating to, or made of tin.

Made of or containing iron

Constructed of inferior material.

Strong, healthy, and capable of great endurance

Spurious.

Inflexible; unyielding

(uncountable) A malleable, ductile, metallic element, resistant to corrosion, with atomic number 50 and symbol Sn.

Holding tightly; very firm

An airtight container, made of tin or another metal, used to preserve food, or hold a liquid or some other product.

To press and smooth with a heated iron

(countable) A metal pan used for baking, roasting, etc.

To remove (creases) by pressing.

The bottom part of the front wall, which is "out" if a player strikes it with the ball.

To put into irons; fetter.

Money, especially silver money.

To fit or clad with iron.

Computer hardware.

To iron clothes.

Made of tin.

(uncountable) A common, inexpensive metal, silvery grey when untarnished, that rusts, is attracted by magnets, and is used in making steel.

Made of galvanised iron or built of corrugated iron.

A metallic chemical element having atomic number 26 and symbol Fe.

(transitive) To place into a metal can (ie. a tin; be it tin, steel, aluminum) in order to preserve.

Any material, not a steel, predominantly made of elemental iron.

(transitive) To cover with tin.

(countable) A tool or appliance made of metal, which is heated and then used to transfer heat to something else; most often a thick piece of metal fitted with a handle and having a flat, roughly triangular bottom, which is heated and used to press wrinkles from clothing, and now usually containing an electrical heating apparatus.

(transitive) To coat with solder

(usually plural, irons) shackles.

To coat with solder, in preparation for soldering, to ensure a good solder joint

(slang) A firearm, either a long gun or a handgun.

To coat with solder, in order to consolidate braided wire, so as to make contact with all strands and reduce fragility of the fraying wire

(uncountable) A dark shade of the color silver.

An elementary substance found as an oxide in the mineral cassiterite, and reduced as a soft silvery-white crystalline metal, with a tinge of yellowish-blue, and a high luster. It is malleable at ordinary temperatures, but brittle when heated. It is softer than gold and can be beaten out into very thin strips called tinfoil. It is ductile at 2120, when it can be drawn out into wire which is not very tenacious; it melts at 4420, and at a higher temperature burns with a brilliant white light. Air and moisture act on tin very slightly. The peculiar properties of tin, especially its malleability, its brilliancy and the slowness with which it rusts make it very serviceable. With other metals it forms valuable alloys, as bronze, gun metal, bell metal, pewter and solder. It is not easily oxidized in the air, and is used chiefly to coat iron to protect it from rusting, in the form of tin foil with mercury to form the reflective surface of mirrors, and in solder, bronze, speculum metal, and other alloys. Its compounds are designated as stannous, or stannic. Symbol Sn (Stannum). Atomic weight 117.4.

(golf) A golf club used for middle-distance shots.

Thin plates of iron covered with tin; tin plate.

Used as a symbol of great strength or toughness, or to signify a very strong or tough material.

Money.

(weightlifting) Weight used as resistance for the purpose of strength training.

To cover with tin or tinned iron, or to overlay with tin foil.

A meteorite consisting primarily of metallic iron (mixed with a small amount of nickel), as opposed to one composed mainly of stony material.

A silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

A safety curtain in a theatre.

Metal container for storing dry foods such as tea or flour

Dumb bombs, those without guidance systems.

Airtight sealed metal container for food or drink or paint etc.

(not comparable) Made of the metal iron.

Plate with tin

(figuratively) Strong as of will, inflexible.

Preserve in a can or tin;

(transitive) To pass an iron over (clothing or some other item made of cloth) in order to remove creases.

Prepare (a metal) for soldering or brazing by applying a thin layer of solder to the surface

To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

(transitive) To furnish or arm with iron.

The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron, steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic number 26, atomic weight 55.847. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.

An instrument or utensil made of iron; - chiefly in composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.

Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.

Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron.

An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.

Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar, dust.

Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.

Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of endurance, insensibility, etc.;

Rude; hard; harsh; severe.

Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.

Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.

Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious.

To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; - sometimes used with out.

To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.

A golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head

Metal shackles; for hands or legs

Implement used to brand live stock

Home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth

Press and smooth with a heated iron;

Extremely robust;

Iron is strong and magnetic, ideal for construction and industrial uses, while tin is soft, corrosion-resistant, and non-magnetic, used for coatings and solders.

Iron mining and processing are highly energy-intensive and contribute significantly to carbon emissions, whereas tin has a relatively lower environmental impact, though mining activities still pose environmental challenges.

Iron led to the Iron Age, significantly impacting technological and societal advancement, while tin contributed to the Bronze Age, marking improvements in material technology.

Tin is used for coating because of its excellent corrosion resistance and non-toxic nature, which helps protect metals like steel from rusting.

Iron is essential in construction, machinery, and as a core material in electronics, while tin is crucial for soldering in electronics and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Yes, both are used in alloys; iron forms steel with carbon, enhancing strength and durability, while tin creates bronze with copper, improving tool and weapon quality.

Iron is magnetic, making it valuable for electrical applications, while tin is non-magnetic, suitable for applications where magnetic properties could be detrimental.

Iron is more abundant and widely distributed around the world than tin, which is less common and primarily sourced from specific minerals like cassiterite.

Common uses include construction materials, automobiles, and household appliances, thanks to its strength and durability.

Uses include food cans, soldering materials, and protective coatings for other metals to prevent corrosion.

Iron, particularly in the form of steel, offers unmatched strength, durability, and versatility, making it ideal for supporting structures in buildings and bridges.

Factors include the energy required for extraction and processing, land disturbance from mining, and pollution from metal production processes.

Iron's discovery led to the Iron Age, a significant leap in societal development, while tin's use in bronze ushered in the Bronze Age, marking early advances in metalworking.

Tin's low melting point and ability to form useful alloys make it essential for creating durable, conductive connections in electronic devices, impacting the reliability and performance of electronics.

Yes, both metals are recyclable, which can reduce the environmental impact associated with their extraction and processing.