The "Disease" That Struck Medieval Church Organs

The video explores the phenomenon of tin pest, which affected church organs by making them brittle and causing them to fall apart. This is due to tin's ability to exist in two forms: white tin, which is strong and shiny, and gray tin, which is dull and brittle. The transformation between these forms depends on temperature, with a critical point around -30 degrees Celsius. The process is slow and requires specific conditions to occur. Understanding the chemistry behind tin pest has led to prevention methods, such as adding other metals to stabilize tin.

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