Question

The soldiers of Napolean army while at Alps during freezing winter suffered a serious problem as regards to the tin buttons of their uniforms. White metallic tin buttons got converted to grey powder. This transformation is related to 

(a) an interaction with nitrogen of the air at very low temperatures 

(b) a change in the crystalline structure of tin 

(c) a change in the partial pressure of oxygen in the air 

(d) an interaction with water vapour contained in the humid air.

Answer 1

(b) : Grey tin is very brittle and easily crumbles down to a powder in very cold climates.
                        Grey tin  ⇋    White tin
                       (cubic)       (tetragonal)
The change of white tin to grey tin is accompanied by increase in volume. This is called tin disease or tin plague.