Identify the group number of tin (Sn) in the periodic table. Tin is in group 14 (or IV), which helps determine its valence electrons.
Recall that elements in group 14 have 4 valence electrons because the group number corresponds to the number of valence electrons for main-group elements.
Understand that valence electrons are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that participate in chemical bonding.
Confirm that tin, being a main-group element in group 14, has 4 valence electrons.
Therefore, the number of valence electrons for tin (Sn) is 4.