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Stannous chloride

Tin(II) chloride
Tin(II) chloride
Names
IUPAC names
Tin(II) chloride
Tin dichloride
Other names
Stannous chloride
Tin salt
Tin protochloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.133.348
E number E512 (acidity regulators, ...)
PubChem CID
RTECS number XP8700000 (anhydrous)
XP8850000 (dihydrate)
UN number 3260
Properties
SnCl2
Molar mass 189.60 g/mol (anhydrous)
225.63 g/mol (dihydrate)
Appearance White crystalline solid
Odor odorless
Density 3.95 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
2.71 g/cm3 (dihydrate)
Melting point 247 °C (477 °F; 520 K) (anhydrous)
37.7 °C (dihydrate)
Boiling point 623 °C (1,153 °F; 896 K) (decomposes)
83.9 g/100 ml (0 °C)
Hydrolyses in hot water
Solubility soluble in ethanol, acetone, ether, Tetrahydrofuran
insoluble in xylene
−69.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
Layer structure
(chains of SnCl3 groups)
Trigonal pyramidal (anhydrous)
Dihydrate also three-coordinate
Bent (gas phase)
Hazards
Main hazards Irritant, dangerous for aquatic organisms
Safety data sheet See: data page
ICSC 0955 (anhydrous)
ICSC 0783 (dihydrate)
NFPA 704
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g., water Health code 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g., turpentine Reactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g., liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
700 mg/kg (rat, oral)
10,000 mg/kg (rabbit, oral)
250 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
Related compounds
Other anions
Tin(II) fluoride
Tin(II) bromide
Tin(II) iodide
Other cations
Germanium dichloride
Tin(IV) chloride
Lead(II) chloride
Supplementary data page
Refractive index (n),
Dielectric constantr), etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
solid–liquid–gas
UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Tin(II) chloride, also known as stannous chloride, is a white crystalline solid with the formula SnCl2. It forms a stable dihydrate, but aqueous solutions tend to undergo hydrolysis, particularly if hot. SnCl2 is widely used as a reducing agent (in acid solution), and in electrolytic baths for tin-plating. Tin(II) chloride should not be confused with the other chloride of tin; tin(IV) chloride or stannic chloride (SnCl4).

SnCl2 has a lone pair of electrons, such that the molecule in the gas phase is bent. In the solid state, crystalline SnCl2 forms chains linked via chloride bridges as shown. The dihydrate is also three-coordinate, with one water coordinated on to the tin, and a second water coordinated to the first. The main part of the molecule stacks into double layers in the crystal lattice, with the "second" water sandwiched between the layers.

Tin(II) chloride can dissolve in less than its own mass of water without apparent decomposition, but as the solution is diluted hydrolysis occurs to form an insoluble basic salt:

Therefore, if clear solutions of tin(II) chloride are to be used, it must be dissolved in hydrochloric acid (typically of the same or greater molarity as the stannous chloride) to maintain the equilibrium towards the left-hand side (using Le Chatelier's principle). Solutions of SnCl2 are also unstable towards oxidation by the air:

This can be prevented by storing the solution over lumps of tin metal.

There are many such cases where tin(II) chloride acts as a reducing agent, reducing silver and gold salts to the metal, and iron(III) salts to iron(II), for example:


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Wikipedia

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