Synthesis and Properties of Tin Tetraiodide

In this video, a colorful and exciting covalent compound of tin and iodine is produced when tin power reacts with a solution of iodine in dichloromethane. Let me know if you have any questions!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tin
• iodine
• tetraiodide
• covalent
• dichloromethane

[atomicsushi1]

Are you sure it's safe to boil off the dichloromethane without some sort of fumehood? And the tin tetraiodide gas? Even outside... I hope you had a mask or something :) That shit's not good for you!

[hkparker]

@atomicsushi1 I did not have a gas mask though that isn't a bad idea. While none of this is good to inhale, being outside with a slight breeze will disperse anything faster then it could harm you here.

[ChemCrazy81]

Is the alcohol lamp from Elemental Scientific and the experiment from Science Made Alive? It's awesome for tin to have so many covalent compounds and still be a metal.

[hkparker]

@ChemCrazy81 Lamp is from united nuke, and yup, I got the experiment from science made alive. That site is truly one of the best resources for home chemists. I talk to the writer of it from time to time on SM and he is extremely smart and very helpful.

[maxx1231]

wouldnt it just be tin (IV) iodide? you only use prefixes with binary nonmetal compounds and since tin (while not being a transition metal) has more than one oxidation state (that and lead are the only two non-transition metal elements with more than one oxidation state) you work backwards from SnI4 to get the charges and you get Sn4+ and I1-, right?

[hkparker]

@maxx1231 um yea. Thats the IUPAC nomenclature. Its often called Tin tetraiodide as well as Tin (IV) iodide, kinda like how Manganese (IV) oxide is often called manganese dioxide, and im not sure why. It is covalent though, but that shouldn't change the rule I don't think.

[hkparker]

@PauldChemist Thank you very much, I appreciate it!

[PauldChemist]

Your videos are getting better at each upload =D

Thank you so much for sharing =)

Keep up the excellent work.

[hkparker]

@mrhomescientist Yea its always cool to see those colors. That copper complex I made a while back was like that, it was a deep purple/black. Anyway thanks! Its nice to be making videos again.

[hkparker]

@ReactionFactory Yea that would be cool! Im not sure, I could try mixing with ethanol. It would have to displace the iodine... I know iodine is a pretty weak conjugate base but I dont know if its that weak.