Tin Compounds

Abstract Tin, in Group 14 (IVA) of the periodic table, occurs in the earth’s crust and has as its the most commercially significant form the ore cassiterite, with tin‐producing areas in Asia, South America, and Africa. It forms stannous (tin(II)) and stannic (tin(IV)) compounds, complex stannites, stannates, and others; only ca 100 are commercially important. Inorganic tin compounds include halides, oxides, metal stannates, salts, and others. Inorganic tin and its compounds generally have low toxicity. Tin is normally present in animals, including humans. Organotin compounds, ie, those having at least one tin–carbon bond, are of commercial importance where R is methyl, butyl, octyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, or β, β‐dimethylphenethyl (neophyl). This class of compounds includes tetraorganotins, triorganotins, diorganotins, and monoorganotins. The largest industrial application of organotin is in the stabilization of PVC. Other tin compounds include those with tin–tin bonds. The most rapidly increasing use for tin is in chemicals. The price of tin chemicals depends large on fluctuations in the price of tin.