Question
SnCl2 is a solid while SnCl4 is a liquid. Explain why.
Solution
The size of Sn2+ ion is larger than Sn4+ ion, so SnCl2 is an ionic compound and SnCl4 is a covalent compound. Thus, SnCl4 molecules are held together by weak Vander Waal’s forces. Hence SnCl4 exists as a liquid. On the other hand, SnCl4 molecules are held together with the help of strong electrostatic forces between the oppositely charged ions. So SnCl2 is solid.
