Question

Tin forms compounds in the +2 and +4 oxidation states. Therefore, when tin reacts with fluorine, two products are possible. Write balanced equations for the production of the two tin halide compounds and name them.

Short answer

For the creation of two tin halide compounds, the balance equations are:

$$\begin{gathered} S{n}_{\left(s\right)}+F_{2\left(g\right)}\to Sn{F}_2\left(s\right) \\ S{n}_{\left(s\right)}+2F_{2\left(g\right)}\to Sn{F}_4\left(s\right) \end{gathered}$$

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Halide compounds

• Halides are halogen containing chemical substances.
• Halides can be found in nature, with certain of them such as salts and acids being necessary for human survival. Minerals, animals, and plants all contain halides.

Determine the tin forms compounds in the +2 and +4 oxidation states

• In a neutral substance, the total of all atoms' oxidation numbers equals zero.
• The oxidation number of fluorine in fluorides is -1.
• Tin has an oxidation number of +2 in the first equation.
• As a result, one tin ion equals one fluorine ion.
• Tin has an oxidation number of +4 in the second equation.
• In order to balance one tin ion, four fluorine ions are required.

$$\begin{gathered} S{n}_{\left(s\right)}+F_{2\left(g\right)}\to Sn{F}_2\left(s\right) \\ S{n}_{\left(s\right)}+2F_{2\left(g\right)}\to Sn{F}_4\left(s\right) \end{gathered}$$