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Chemical Name: Tin(IV) Chloride Pentahydrate
Synonyms: Stannic chloride pentahydrate
Chemical Formula: SnCl4·5H2O
Physical Appearance: Colorless or slightly white crystalline solid, may appear deliquescent in humid environments
Odor: Pungent, resembling hydrochloric acid due to hydrolysis
Common Uses: Catalyst in organic synthesis, mordant in dyeing, glass manufacturing, tin plating, and laboratory reagent
GHS Classification: Corrosive to skin and eyes, irritant to respiratory tract
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, hydrolysis releases hydrogen chloride gas
Pictograms: Corrosive, Exclamation Mark
Route of Exposure: Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Immediate Symptoms: Redness, pain, chemical burns, lacrimation, coughing, sneezing, sore throat
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure may cause dermatitis, respiratory sensitivity, or aggravated asthma
Main Ingredient: Tin(IV) Chloride Pentahydrate (SnCl4·5H2O)
Purity: High-grade commercial and laboratory samples generally exceed 98% purity by weight
Impurities: Trace amounts of hydrochloric acid may result from decomposition, metallic tin contamination may arise from manufacturing
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air, support breathing, seek medical attention if symptoms persist
Skin Contact: Rinse affected area promptly with copious running water for fifteen minutes, remove contaminated clothing, seek immediate medical attention for burns
Eye Contact: Hold eyelids open, rinse eyes with water continuously for fifteen minutes, remove contact lenses if possible, get medical help right away
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly with water, avoid inducing vomiting, seek immediate medical assessment
Notes to Physician: Treat persistent chemical burns as typical acid exposures, monitor for secondary respiratory complications, manage with supportive care
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical powder or carbon dioxide, avoid water if possible as hydrolysis releases toxic gas
Hazardous Combustion Products: Releases hydrogen chloride and possibly stannic oxide fumes
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus with full protective clothing
Special Risks: Product may react violently with water, generating heat and corrosive vapors, runoff may damage nearby materials or drains
Emergency Methods: Isolate area, use barriers to contain chemical, ventilate enclosed spaces
Personal Precautions: Equip responders with acid-resistant gloves, goggles, respirators, and chemical suits
Environmental Precautions: Prevent chemical from entering waterways or soil, block drains or sewers nearby
Containment: Cover spill with dry inert material such as sand or earth, scoop up for proper disposal
Cleaning Methods: Avoid using water, neutralize residue with soda ash or lime, collect and dispose of all waste as hazardous chemical
Decontamination: Ventilate area thoroughly, clean with appropriate industrial-grade neutralizers
Handling Precautions: Work under local exhaust ventilation, keep containers tightly sealed except during use, open in fume hood where possible
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling, remove contaminated clothing immediately
Storage Conditions: Keep in acid-resistant, non-metallic containers, store in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas away from incompatible materials such as strong bases and oxidizers
Segregation: Isolate from food and beverages, separate from other chemicals that could trigger violent reactions
Occupational Exposure Limits: No established threshold limit values for tin(IV) chloride pentahydrate, but engineering controls and good practice suggest limiting exposure as for corrosive substances
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation, closed process systems, and proper containment to reduce airborne concentrations
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or neoprene gloves, safety goggles or face shield, acid-resistant apron or lab coat, NIOSH-approved respirator for dust or vapor where necessary
Work Practices: No eating or drinking in chemical use areas, minimize splashes or airborne dust, provide ready access to eyewash stations and emergency showers
Appearance: White to almost colorless, crystalline, absorbs moisture from the air
Odor: Strong, pungent hydrochloric acid smell
Molecular Weight: 350.60 g/mol
Solubility: Readily dissolves in water, exothermic, releases hydrogen chloride
Melting Point: Loses water of hydration upon heating; decomposition rather than clear melting
Boiling Point: Not applicable for pentahydrate form, decomposes before boiling
Density: About 2.36 g/cm3 at room temperature
pH: Strongly acidic when dissolved in water due to hydrolysis
Chemical Stability: Tends to hydrolyze when exposed to moisture, forming corrosive hydrochloric acid
Conditions to Avoid: Avoid humid air, water, strong bases, strong oxidizers, and direct sunlight
Incompatible Materials: Alkalis, alkali metals, strong oxidizers, sodium, potassium
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen chloride gas and tin oxides release upon decomposition
Polymerization: Not known to undergo hazardous polymerization under normal conditions
Reactivity Profile: Vigorous exothermic reaction with water, formation of a gelatinous precipitate of tin oxide possible
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, dermal, ocular, oral
Acute Effects: Severe burns to skin and eyes, respiratory irritation, gastrointestinal distress if swallowed
Symptoms: Redness, pain, permanent loss of vision from eye exposure, chest discomfort, coughing, stomach pain, vomiting
Long-term Effects: Possible sensitization of the skin and respiratory tract, recurring bronchial irritation in workplaces with continued exposure
Carcinogenicity: Lack of evidence for carcinogenic effects from stannic chloride pentahydrate, but chronic inhalation of tin salts may contribute to pneumoconiosis
Other Health Hazards: Tin compounds may accumulate in body tissue, but current data show minimal systemic toxicity in acute exposures
Aquatic Toxicity: Potentially toxic to aquatic organisms, significant pH shifts on release can be harmful to aquatic habitats
Persistence and Degradability: Tin(IV) chloride hydrolyzes rapidly in water, leading to tin oxide precipitate and hydrochloric acid
Bioaccumulation: Likely to have low potential for bioaccumulation in local wildlife
Mobility: Soluble in water, risk for contamination of soil and groundwater with improper handling
Other Harmful Effects: Acidification of surface water or soil can have lasting adverse impacts on local ecosystems
Waste Handling: Dispose in accordance with national and local regulations for hazardous materials, do not pour down the drain
Neutralization: React with neutralizing agents such as sodium carbonate or lime under controlled conditions before disposal
Container Disposal: Rinse thoroughly with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution before recycling or discarding
Precautions: Avoid landfill disposal without proper treatment, prevent residual contamination of soil or groundwater
Transport Precautions: Ship in sealed, labeled acid-resistant containers, segregate from foodstuffs and incompatible chemicals
Hazard Class: Classified as corrosive; shipment must comply with transport authority packaging and labeling rules
Environmental Risks: Take steps at every stage to avoid rupture, leakage, and exposure during transit
Emergency Actions: Spillage during transport should be handled only by trained emergency responders using suitable PPE, evacuate area if inhalation risk occurs
Chemical Safety Laws: Subject to hazardous substance regulations under national and international chemical safety standards
Labeling Requirements: Must include hazard pictograms, risk phrases, and precautionary statements required by regulations
Workplace Standards: Workers must be informed and trained about risks, emergency procedures, and PPE for safe use and handling
Environmental Regulations: Report any substantial spills to authorities, adhere to proper waste treatment as industrial pollutant
Import and Export Controls: May be restricted under various country-specific hazardous materials regulations
