Tin(II) hydroxide
# Tin(II) hydroxide

Tin(II) hydroxide, $Sn(OH)_2,$ also known as stannous hydroxide, is an inorganic compound tin(II). The only related material for which definitive information is available is the oxy hydroxide $Sn_6O_4(OH)_4,$ but other related materials are claimed. They are all white solids that are insoluble in water.

## Preparation and structure

Crystals of $Sn_6O_4(OH)_4$ has been characterized by X-ray diffraction. This cluster is obtained from solution of basic solutions of tin(II). The compound consists of an octahedron of Sn centers, each face of which is capped by an oxide or a hydroxide. The structure is reminiscent of the $Mo_6S_8$ subunit of the Chevrel phases.. The structure of pure $Sn(OH)_2$ is not known.

$Sn(OH)_2$ has been claimed to arise from the reaction of $(CH_3)_3SnOH$ with $SnCl_2$ in an aprotic solvent:

    2 $Me_3SnOH$ + $SnCl_2$ → $Sn(OH)_2$ + 2 $Me_3SnCl$

No crystallographic characterization is available on this material.

## Reactions

Stannous hydroxide is easily oxidized to stannic oxide $(SnO_2)$ by air.

