1. Color
Silver is a white metal, while tin is a slightly bluish-white metal.
2. Weight
Silver is denser than tin, so a piece of silver will be heavier than a piece of tin of the same size.
3. Malleability
Silver is more malleable than tin, so it can be hammered into thin sheets more easily.
4. Conductivity
Silver is a better conductor of electricity than tin, so a piece of silver will feel colder to the touch than a piece of tin of the same temperature.
5. Chemical reactions
Silver reacts with sulfur to form silver sulfide, a black compound. Tin does not react with sulfur.
6. Melting point
Tin has a melting point of 231.93°C (450°F). Silver, on the other hand, has a melting point of 961.78°C (1763.22°F), which is much higher than tin. This means that you can use the melting point to easily differentiate silver from tin, which is why a melting point test is often used when checking for counterfeits or silver purity.
7. Acid test
Finally, you can also use an acid test to tell silver from tin. Nitric acid will react with silver to form silver nitrate, a soluble compound. Tin will not react with nitric acid.
