Types of Metals

Tin is one of the metals known for the longest to man. It is one of the main components of bronze, which revolutionised civilisation as bronze was harder and easier to work with than copper. Tin is smelted in a similar way to iron, by reducing it with coal. Tin is soft at room temperature and above but becomes brittle at low temperatures because it becomes crystalline as it cools. Tin is very stable and doesn't tarnish or rust like other metals. Today tin is used mainly as an alloy with other metals, and to coat other metals to stop them from rusting. Tin is used to line tin cans, which are actually made of steel.

Zinc is a hard, brittle metal. It is most commonly used mixed with other metals to make alloys like brass, and as a coating on other metals to stop them rusting. Zinc stops other metals rusting because when it is attached to another metal it will rust before that other metal does. The other metal will then start to rust when all the zinc is gone. Metal that is coated with zinc is called galvanized. If you look closely at galvanised metal you can see the zinc crystals.