SplendidAcylation
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The smell of tin (Sn)
A bit of a silly question but here goes:
I have noticed many times when soldering that there is a particular smell associated with it, naturally I thought nothing of it as I attributed it to
the smell of the flux in the solder.
However, recently I required thin pieces of tin to dissolve in acid, so these were prepared by melting tin and dropping it onto a flat surface,
forming thin foil-like splashes.
I noticed that, when melting this pure tin, the same smell was present
I cannot describe it, except to say that it is not a metallic smell, but it is somewhat pleasant
What do you suppose this could be?
I thought perhaps it was tin vapour, or perhaps particles of tin oxide, neither of which I would have expected to have a smell.
[Edited on 14-10-2022 by SplendidAcylation]
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Sulaiman
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Eliminate a variable :
Try a flat surface that is inert at molten tin temperatures.
(no oil, grease, tar, water, wood, plastic etc.)
PS I think that 'stuff' on my skin reacts with some clean metal surfaces to give a smell.
So don't touch the metal.
[Edited on 15-10-2022 by Sulaiman]
CAUTION : Hobby Chemist, not Professional or even Amateur
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Herr Haber
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Colophony (pine resin) is sometimes present as a flux in soldering wire. The smell is pleasant.
I have no idea why you would get a smell from pure molten tin though. Unless I misunderstood you and you melted soldering wire before dropping it on a
flat surface. That would explain the smell.
The spirit of adventure was upon me. Having nitric acid and copper, I had only to learn what the words 'act upon' meant. - Ira Remsen
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Sulaiman
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Just found this https://youtu.be/G_c3H6zdZ9Y
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Dr.Bob
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Most organotin compounds have horrible smells, and many are also quite toxic, so I find it hard to imagine the metal smelling good. I also know that
mant tin salts have odd, metallic smalles, so again, tin smells bad in that context. My first real chemistry job was in a hood that was contaminated
with organic tins, so it took a great deal of cleaning to make it not stink horribly.
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SplendidAcylation
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Thanks for the replies
@Sulaiman
Yes, I had heard about the typical metallic smell being due to catalytic action at the surface of the metal, indeed, clean metal tends to have no
smell, I think the tin smell is somewhat different as doesn't resemble the typical "metallic" smell... But who knows.
I will endeavour to reattempt the experiment soon with thoroughly cleaned tin and clean, inert surfaces.
@Herr Haber
Yes, well I noticed the smell before when soldering, it was in addition to the flux smell.
More recently, however, I was surprised to find that pure tin, free of flux, has the same smell
(Actually, it wasn't pure tin, but 99% Sn 1% Ag solder wire, but not the kind with flux in it! The plumbing solder, it is just solid wire)
@Dr.Bob
Interesting, I have made tin tetrachloride which had no appreciable smell although I tried to avoid inhaling the vapour, would be fun to make some
organotin compounds, maybe via a Grignard reaction.
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DraconicAcid
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Quote: Originally posted by SplendidAcylation  |
Interesting, I have made tin tetrachloride which had no appreciable smell although I tried to avoid inhaling the vapour, would be fun to make some
organotin compounds, maybe via a Grignard reaction. |
The easiest organotin compound to make is tribenzyltin chloride. Reflux tin powder with benzyl chloride. Depending on what solvent you use, you can
get tribenzyltin chloride or dibenzyltin dichloride.
Please remember: "Filtrate" is not a verb.
Write up your lab reports the way your instructor wants them, not the way your ex-instructor wants them.
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SplendidAcylation
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| Quote: Originally posted by DraconicAcid | | Quote: Originally posted by SplendidAcylation |
Interesting, I have made tin tetrachloride which had no appreciable smell although I tried to avoid inhaling the vapour, would be fun to make some
organotin compounds, maybe via a Grignard reaction. |
The easiest organotin compound to make is tribenzyltin chloride. Reflux tin powder with benzyl chloride. Depending on what solvent you use, you can
get tribenzyltin chloride or dibenzyltin dichloride. |
Nice! This is definitely going on my to do list!
Do you know any of the properties of it, is it highly toxic like some other organotin compounds?
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DraconicAcid
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| Quote: Originally posted by SplendidAcylation | | Quote: Originally posted by DraconicAcid | | Quote: Originally posted by SplendidAcylation |
Interesting, I have made tin tetrachloride which had no appreciable smell although I tried to avoid inhaling the vapour, would be fun to make some
organotin compounds, maybe via a Grignard reaction. |
The easiest organotin compound to make is tribenzyltin chloride. Reflux tin powder with benzyl chloride. Depending on what solvent you use, you can
get tribenzyltin chloride or dibenzyltin dichloride. |
I made this recently, actually, following the prep in this lab manual:
https://people.uleth.ca/~p.hayes/Chem%203830%20Web%20Page%20...
No particular smell, and I don't think it's particularly toxic. It's not very soluble in ethyl acetate, so the extraction left most of the product
behind.
I'm trying to figure out how do deal with the waste (which probably contains benzyl bromide and various organotin crap) and how to get the damned
white stains off the glassware.
Nice! This is definitely going on my to do list!
Do you know any of the properties of it, is it highly toxic like some other organotin compounds? |
Please remember: "Filtrate" is not a verb.
Write up your lab reports the way your instructor wants them, not the way your ex-instructor wants them.
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