TinIV

Tin(IV) denotes tin in the +4 oxidation state in chemical compounds. Tin commonly exists in two oxidation states: tin(II) and tin(IV). In tin(IV) compounds, tin bears a formal charge of +4, and these species include both inorganic compounds such as oxides and halides and organotin compounds where tin is covalently bonded to carbon. In aqueous media, tin(IV) species are strongly hydrolyzed, tending to form tin-oxo-hydroxy species and insoluble hydroxides depending on pH and ligand environment.

Common tin(IV) compounds include tin(IV) oxide (SnO2, stannic oxide), a white solid used in ceramics, pigments, and as a catalyst; tin(IV) chloride (SnCl4), a reactive Lewis acid that hydrolyzes in water; and a range of organotin(IV) compounds of the form R3SnX used in stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride and as biocides. In nonaqueous media, tin(IV) chloride and related species can form coordination complexes and polymeric structures, such as hexachlorostannate(IV) [SnCl6]2- in strongly coordinating chloride media.

Tin is obtained primarily from the ore cassiterite (SnO2), the mineral from which metallic tin is extracted. Tin(IV) compounds are central to many industrial processes, including catalysis and materials science, and they also feature in organotin chemistry where alkyl or aryl groups are bonded to tin(IV).

Safety and environmental notes: some organotin compounds are highly toxic and persist in the environment; tin(IV) chlorides and related reagents are corrosive and should be handled with appropriate care.