Answer to Question #129817 in General Chemistry for Rosie Khan

Question

Can someone answer this question? "Under some conditions SnCl2 can simultaneously behave as a lewis acid and lewis base. Suggest a molecule that might form under these conditions. What is the hybridization of Sn in this compound?

Answer 1

$SnCl_2$ Acts as a Lewis acid as well as a Lewis base.

Tin(II) chloride also behaves as a Lewis acid forming complex with ligands such as chloride ion, SnCl₂ is a hypovalent species (less than eight electrons are present around the central atom). Thus, it can act as Lewis acid.

for example:

$SnCl_2(aq) + CsCl(aq) \to CsSnCl_3+(aq)$

It mainly act as Lewis Base forming complexes as it has a tendency to donate the lone pair on chlorine ion.

$cis-PtCl_2(P_2)+ SnCl_2\to PtCl(SnCl_3)(P_2)$

The hybridization of $Sn$ in $SnCl_2$ is $sp^2$ hybridized as it forms two $s$ and $p$

Bonds with $Cl$ and has a $p$ lone pair.