A solution of tin(II) chloride containing a little
hydrochloric acid is used for the
tin-plating of steel, in order to make
tin cans. An electric potential is applied, and
tin metal is formed at the
cathode via
electrolysis. Tin(II) chloride is used as a
mordant in textile
dyeing because it gives brighter colours with some dyes e.g.
cochineal. This mordant has also been used alone to increase the weight of silk. In recent years, an increasing number of
tooth paste brands have been adding Tin(II) chloride as protection against enamel erosion to their formula, e. g.
Oral-B or
Elmex. It is used as a catalyst in the production of the plastic
polylactic acid (PLA). It also finds a use as a catalyst between acetone and hydrogen peroxide to form the tetrameric form of
acetone peroxide. Tin(II) chloride also finds wide use as a
reducing agent. This is seen in its use for silvering mirrors, where
silver metal is deposited on the glass: :Sn2+ (aq) + 2 Ag+ → Sn4+ (aq) + 2 Ag (s) A related reduction was traditionally used as an analytical test for . For example, if SnCl2 is added
dropwise into a solution of
mercury(II) chloride, a white precipitate of
mercury(I) chloride is first formed; as more SnCl2 is added this turns black as metallic mercury is formed. Stannous chloride is also used by many precious metals refining hobbyists and professionals to test for the presence of
gold salts. When SnCl2 comes into contact with gold compounds, particularly
chloroaurate salts, it forms a bright purple colloid known as
purple of Cassius. A similar reaction occurs with
platinum and
palladium salts, becoming green and brown respectively. When mercury is analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy, a cold vapor method must be used, and tin (II) chloride is typically used as the reductant.
Organic chemistry In
organic chemistry, SnCl2 is used in the
Stephen reduction, whereby a
nitrile is reduced (via an
imidoyl chloride salt) to an
imine which is easily hydrolysed to an
aldehyde. The reaction usually works best with
aromatic nitriles
Aryl-CN. A related reaction (called the Sonn-Müller method) starts with an amide, which is treated with
PCl5 to form the imidoyl chloride salt. The Stephen reduction is less used today, because it has been mostly superseded by
diisobutylaluminium hydride reduction. Additionally, SnCl2 is used to selectively reduce
aromatic nitro groups to
anilines. SnCl2 also reduces
quinones to
hydroquinones. Stannous chloride is also added as a
food additive with
E number E512 to some canned and bottled foods, where it serves as a
color-retention agent and
antioxidant. SnCl2 is used in
radionuclide angiography to reduce the radioactive agent
technetium-99m-
pertechnetate to assist in binding to blood cells. Molten SnCl2 can be oxidised to form highly crystalline SnO2 nanostructures. A Stannous reduction is used in
nuclear medicine bone scans to remove the negative charge from free
pertechnetate when it is bound to MDP for radiopharmaceutical studies. Incomplete reduction due to insufficient tin or accidental insufflation of air leads to the formation of free pertechnetate, a finding which can be seen on bone scans due to its inappropriate uptake in the stomach. Stannous Chloride is used for coating SnO2 Tin Oxide doped conductive
iridescent coatings for low e glass. ==Notes==