Tin(IV) chloride facts for kids

This is liquid tin(IV) chloride without water.

This is solid tin(IV) chloride with water.

Tin(IV) chloride, also called stannic chloride, is a special chemical compound. Its chemical formula is SnCl₄. This means it has one tin atom and four chloride atoms joined together. The tin in this compound has a +4 oxidation state, which describes how many electrons it has lost or gained.

What is Tin(IV) Chloride Like?

Tin(IV) chloride can be a liquid or a solid. When it is a liquid, it is called anhydrous, meaning it has no water in its structure. When it is a solid, it is hydrated, meaning it has water molecules attached to it. Both forms are very corrosive, which means they can damage other materials.

When tin(IV) chloride is exposed to air, it creates fumes. These fumes are actually hydrochloric acid vapor. They can make your nose feel irritated.

This compound also reacts with strong bases. When it mixes with a strong base, it forms a substance called tin(IV) oxide hydrate. It can also react with more hydrochloric acid. This reaction creates a different ion, which is a charged particle, called SnCl₆^2-.

How is Tin(IV) Chloride Made?

Making tin(IV) chloride is quite simple. You just need to combine tin metal with chlorine gas. When these two elements meet, they react together to form tin(IV) chloride.

Here is the chemical reaction: Sn + 2 Cl₂ → SnCl₄ This shows that one tin atom reacts with two chlorine molecules to produce one molecule of tin(IV) chloride.

What is Tin(IV) Chloride Used For?

Tin(IV) chloride has had several uses throughout history and in modern chemistry.

During World War I, it was used to create irritating clouds of smoke. These smoke clouds were used to bother enemy soldiers.

Today, tin(IV) chloride is used to make other important chemicals. For example, it is used to create tin(IV) fluoride. It is also important in organic chemistry. It helps make special compounds that contain tin, which are used in many different ways.

Related pages

• Tin(II) chloride
• Tin(IV) bromide
• Tin(IV) iodide

Images for kids

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  Structure of solid SnCl4.

See also

In Spanish: Cloruro de estaño(IV) para niños