The complexometry of tin(IV)

Tin(IV) very readily hydrolyses in solution, and forms hydrous tin oxide SnO(2)2.nH(2)O even in rather strongly acidic solution. In spite of a lack of reliable data on the hydrolysis of tin(IV) a consistent picture of the behaviour of tin(IV) in solution has been constructed. Some values for the formation of hydroxide and chloride complexes were deduced from electrochemical data. In agreement with more or less qualitative remarks by other investigators a value of log k(so) = -3 has been found for the solubility constant. For the stability constant of tin(IV)-EDTA, log K(SnY) = 34.5 was found experimentally. A survey is given of the pitfalls which exist in handling tin solutions. A back-titration procedure is presented that provides for the complexometric determination of tin(IV) at concentrations down to 3 ppm, with an error of 1% or better. Thorium is used as back-titrant with Semi-Xylenol Orange as indicator. The method has successfully been applied to the analysis of organotin compounds.