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Tin(IV) chloride

Safety data


IUPAC name	Tin tetrachloride Tin(IV) chloride
Other names	Stannic chloride
Identifiers
CAS number	7646-78-8
Properties
Molecular formula	SnCl₄
Molar mass	260.50 g/mol
Appearance	fuming liquid
Density	2.226 g/ml, liquid
Melting point	-33 °C
Boiling point	114.1 °C
Solubility in water	Decomposes
Viscosity	? cP at ? °C
Hazards
EU classification	Corrosive (C)
R-phrases	R34, R52/53
S-phrases	S1/2, S7/8, S26, S45, S61
Related Compounds
Other anions	Tin(IV) fluoride Tin(IV) bromide Tin(IV) iodide
Other cations	Tin(II) chloride Germanium tetrachloride Lead(IV) chloride
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Tin(IV) chloride, also known as tin tetrachloride or stannic chloride is a chemical compound with the formula Sn Cl₄. At room temperature it is a colourless liquid, which fumes on contact with air, giving a stinging odour. Its molecular weight is 260.5, its boiling point 114°C, and its freezing point -32°C. It is prepared from reaction of chlorine gas with elemental tin.

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Anhydrous tin(IV) chloride is a strong Lewis acid which reacts violently with water. It is extremely corrosive to skin. On contact with air it releases severely irritating hydrogen chloride fumes. It forms a white pentahydrate, formerly known as butter of tin because of its consistency.

Stannic chloride was used as a chemical weapon in World War I. It is also used in the glass container industry for making an external coating containing tin(IV) oxide which toughens the glass. It is a starting material for organotin compounds.

Stannic chloride is used in chemical reactions with fuming (90%) nitric acid for the selective nitration of activated aromatic rings in the presence of unactivated ones.^[1]