OXIDATION STATE OF TIN AND LEAD

Abstract
The experiment was divided into 3 parts. The first and third parts were carried out to
investigate the stability of the oxidation stages of Tin (Sn) and Lead (Pb). The first part
Lead(ii) nitrate reacted with NaOH, and white precipitance formed which is [Pb (Oh)2]. Part
two involved the production of ammonium hexachloroplumbate (IV), (NH4)2[PbCl6], a
yellow crystalline precipitate, and ammonium hexachlorostannate (IV), (NH4)2[SnCl6], a
white crystalline result. Their masses were minimal since they all disintegrated in filter paper.
Sn has two frequent oxidation states: +2 and +4, although the most stable oxidation state for
Sn has been discovered to be +4, whereas, for Pb, +2 is the most stable oxidation state and
dominates lead chemistry.

The Experiment Aim

This experiment aims to determine the stability of lead and tin in the +2 and +4 oxidation
states, as well as to demonstrate lead and tin's flexibility when they have six-coordinate
atoms.

The Result and Discussion

Carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Tin (Sn), and Lead (Pb) all have the same
oxidation state of +4, however, as the atomic number advances along the group, their
oxidation number decreases twofold. Carbon differs from the other elements in the group in
that it is non-metallic, but tin and lead appear to be metals since they have the highest atomic
mass in group 14. Lead has been oxidized. Tin has an oxidation state of +4 as opposed to +2
This experiment demonstrated that lead and tin can create a maximum of six bonds with
halogens, as stated earlier in the abstract. The product or complexes created consist of six
coordination numbers, such as [PbCl6] ⁻2 and [SnCl6] ⁻2.

The answer to the questions in Part 1

1. Lead hydroxide is precipitated

2. The precipitate redissolves because lead is a weak base, so it dissociates partially

3. Pb (NO3)2 + 2NaOH = Pb (OH)2 + 2NaNO3

Pb (OH)2(s) + 2NaOH(aq) = Pb (OH)42-(aq) + 2Na (aq)

4. The reaction is changed, the reaction is redox

5. Pb (OH)4 (aq) +OCl-(aq) = H20(L) + PbO(s) +2OH-(aq) +Cl-(aq)

6. Because it is a strong oxidising agent (Nitric acid)

7. There was no reaction, and the reaction colour was purple

8 The reaction colour was white weak oxidising agent.

Part 2
1. Yellow crystalline precipitate formed (NH4)2[PbCl6]
2. White crystalline precipitate formed (NH4)2[SnCl6]
3: A. Equation for yellow precipitate (NH4)2[PbCl](s) + 2H2O(l) = PbO2(S)+ 2NH4Cl
+4HCl(l)
: White precipitate (NH4)2[SnCl6] (s) + 2H2O(l) = 2NH4OH(l) + H2SnCl6(l)
B: Yellow precipitate (NH4)2[PbCl6] (s) + H2SO4(l) = PbCl4(l) +2HCl(l)+(NH4)2SO4(l)
: White precipitate (NH4)2[SnCl6] (s) + H2SO4(l) = SnCl4(l) +(NH4)2SO4(l) +2HCl(l)
C: Yellow precipitance (NH4)2[PbCl6] (s) +HCl(l) =NH4Cl(l) +PbO2(S) +H20(l)
: White precipitate (NH4)2[SnCl6] (s) + 2HCl(l) =H2SnCl4(l) + 2NH4Cl(l)
Both share the same coordination number which is 6

Part 3

Reagent Reaction with Reaction with Explanation

(NH4)2[PbCl6] (NH4)2[SnCl6]
H20 Yellow to light yellow White bottom part Oxidizing
agency was
weak
H2SO4 Yellow has a yellow White bottom part The oxidizing
layer agent was weak
HCl Yellow became White bottom part For yellow HCl
colourless (Remains the same) was a strong
oxidizing agent
for white was
weak the colour
did not change.

Yellow precipitate: 1.92g

White precipitate: 3.61g
Yellow
Percentage yield= Actual yield/ theoretical yield * 100
= 1.92g/5.53g * 100
=34.71%
White
Percentage yield= Actual yield/ theoretical yield* 100
= 3,61g/5.53 *100
=65.2%
FURTHER QUESTIONS
1. Lead is a metal, whereas chlorine is a nonmetal that is a strong oxidant. Thus, we can
anticipate a redox reaction in which the metal functions as a reductant. Although lead can
form compounds in both the +2 and +4 oxidation states, Pb4+ is a strong oxidant (the inert-
pair effect). Because lead prefers the +2 oxidation state and chlorine is a weaker oxidant than
fluorine, the result is expected to be PbCl2. The +2 oxidation state becomes more stable as it
progresses from carbon to lead. PbCl2 and SnCl2 are ionic compounds, but PbCl4 and SnCl4
are covalent. PbCl2 will be more ionic than SnCl. Because Pb has a larger inert pair effect
than Sn.

[SnCL5]- structure
The[ SnCl6]2-

Both their shape is trigonal bipyramidal

[CCL6]2- does not exist because carbon did not obey the octet rule.

Conclusion
The result of this experiment shows that lead and tin they differ in the oxidation state.
Therefore, lead and tin are not the same although they are in the same group.

References
1. Mcqune D.A and Rock P.A (1985), Descriptive Chemistry, W.H Freeman and Company,
New York
2. Jim Clark’s website on Group 4 chemistry
http:// www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group4/oxstates.html
3. Brown A.L (1970), Elemental of Functional Analysis- Van Nostrand Reinhold.