Tin(IV) iodide explained

Tin(IV) iodide, also known as stannic iodide, is the chemical compound with the formula SnI₄. This tetrahedral molecule crystallizes as a bright orange solid that dissolves readily in nonpolar solvents such as benzene.^[1]

Preparation

The compound is usually prepared by the reaction of iodine and tin:^[2]

Chemical properties

The compound hydrolyses in water. In aqueous hydroiodic acid, it reacts to form a rare example of a hexaiodometallate:^[2]

SnI₄ + 2 I⁻ → [SnI₆]²⁻

Physical properties

Tin(IV) iodide is an orange solid under standard conditions.^[3] It has a cubic crystal structure with the space group Pa (space group no. 205), the lattice parameter a = 1226 pm and eight formula units per unit cell.^[4] This corresponds approximately to a cubic close packing of iodine atoms in which 1/8 of all tetrahedral gaps are occupied by tin atoms. This leads to discrete tetrahedral SnI₄ molecules.^[5]

See also

• Tin(II) iodide
• Tin(IV) chloride

References

1. http://www.webelements.com/webelements/compounds/text/Sn/I4Sn1-7790478.html Chemistry : Periodic Table : tin : compound data [tin (IV) iodide&#93;<!-- Bot generated title -->]
2. Book: Moeller. T.. Edwards. D. C.. Tin(IV) Iodide (Stannic Iodide) . . 1953 . 4 . 119–121 . 10.1002/9780470132357.ch40.
3. Hickling . George G. . Aug 1990 . Gravimetric analysis: The synthesis of tin iodide . Journal of Chemical Education . en . 67 . 8 . 702 . 10.1021/ed067p702 . 1990JChEd..67..702H . 0021-9584.
4. Meller . F. . Fankuchen . I. . 1955-06-10 . The crystal structure of tin tetraiodide . Acta Crystallographica . en . 8 . 6 . 343–344 . 10.1107/S0365110X55001035 . 0365-110X. free . 1955AcCry...8..343M .
5. Book: Wiberg . Egon . Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chemie . Wiberg . Nils . 2007 . Walter de Gruyter . 978-3-11-017770-1 . Holleman . Arnold F. . 102., stark umgearbeitete und verbesserte Auflage . Berlin New York . Fischer . Gerd.