Tin and lead are in group 14, like carbon and silicon, and they have four electrons in their outermost shell.
Within group 14, carbon and silicon at the top are nonmetals, germanium has properties in between, and tin and lead at the bottom are metals. Both tin and lead are amphoteric metals, reacting with acids and with strong bases.
Tin and lead both take the oxidation numbers +2 and +4.
For tin, +4 is the more stable, so tin(II) chloride, \mathrm{SnCl_2}, gives up electrons readily and is used as a reducing agent. For lead it is the other way round: +2 is the more stable, so lead(IV) oxide, \mathrm{PbO_2}, readily accepts electrons and acts as a strong oxidizing agent.
Tin is a silvery white metal that resists corrosion and melts at a low temperature of about 232 °C. Iron sheet plated with tin is called tinplate, and it has long been used for food cans.
Alloys of tin and lead are called solder, and they have long been used to join electronic components. Today, solder that contains no lead is mainly used.
The alloy of copper and tin is bronze.
When chloride ions are added to a solution containing \mathrm{Pb}^{2+}, white lead(II) chloride, \mathrm{PbCl_2}, is precipitated; with chromate ions, yellow lead(II) chromate, \mathrm{PbCrO_4}; and with sulfide ions, black lead(II) sulfide, \mathrm{PbS}.
Lead(II) chloride dissolves in hot water, so it can be told apart from silver chloride, which does not.
When lead is put into hydrochloric acid or dilute sulfuric acid, lead(II) chloride or lead(II) sulfate, which hardly dissolve in water, forms on the surface, so the lead barely dissolves.
The lead-acid battery used in cars has lead as its negative electrode, lead(IV) oxide as its positive electrode and dilute sulfuric acid as its electrolyte.
\mathrm{Pb} + \mathrm{PbO_2} + 2\mathrm{H_2SO_4} \longrightarrow 2\mathrm{PbSO_4} + 2\mathrm{H_2O}
During discharge, lead(II) sulfate forms on the surface of both electrodes; during charging, the electrodes return to their original state, so the battery can be used again and again.
Lead has a high density of about 11.3 g/cm³ and is used in sheets that block radiation, but because it is harmful to the body, it is being used less and less.