What is the name for the compound tin (II) nitrate?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The name of the compound tin (II) nitrate is stannous nitrate.
Explanation:
- Tin (II) Nitrate is a compound made up of tin (Sn), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) atoms. To break down the name:
- Tin (II) refers to the tin ion (Sn²⁺) with a +2 oxidation state. The Roman numeral “II” indicates the charge of the tin ion. Tin, being a transition metal, can have multiple oxidation states, and the (II) indicates that it is in its +2 state.
- Nitrate refers to the nitrate ion, which is NO₃⁻. The nitrate ion is composed of one nitrogen atom centrally bonded to three oxygen atoms, and it carries a negative one charge.
- Naming convention for transition metals:
- Tin is a transition metal that can form compounds with multiple oxidation states. The most common oxidation states of tin are +2 and +4. The (II) in the name specifies that tin is in the +2 oxidation state, which is why it is called stannous (as opposed to the +4 oxidation state, which would be called stannic).
- Chemical Formula:
- To determine the formula of tin (II) nitrate, consider that the tin ion (Sn²⁺) will combine with two nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) to balance the charge. Each nitrate ion carries a -1 charge, so two nitrate ions are needed to balance the +2 charge of the tin ion. The formula for the compound is therefore Sn(NO₃)₂.
- Properties:
- Stannous nitrate is a white crystalline compound that is soluble in water. It is used in various chemical processes, such as in the preparation of other tin compounds and as a catalyst in certain reactions.
In summary, the compound Sn(NO₃)₂ is named stannous nitrate, where “stannous” refers to the +2 oxidation state of tin, and “nitrate” refers to the nitrate ion.