Abstract

The experiment was divided into three parts, part one to part three. Part one and
part three was carried to examine the relative stabilities of oxidation states of
Tin(Sn) and Lead(Pb).In part one the lead(II) Nitrate reacted with NaOH and
the white precipitate was formed which is lead hydroxide [Pb(OH)2].The results
showed that lead is dominated by an oxidation number of +2 which is more
stable for lead whereas the Tin have an oxidation number of +4.Part two was
the synthesis of Coordination complexes i.e. Ammonium
hexachloroplumbate(IV), (NH4)2[PbCl6], a yellow crystalline precipitate and
ammonium hexachlorostannate(IV), (NH4)2[SnCl6], a white crystalline product.
Their masses were negligible since they all dissolved in a filter paper. Part two
showed that Lead and Tin can form up to six bonds with halogens and produce
[PbCl6] ⁻2 and [SnCl6] ⁻2 complexes with six coordination numbers.

Experiment Aims

The aim of the experiment is to examine the stability of +4 oxidation states of

tin and lead. The redox reaction, acid/base and solubility of +2 and +4 oxidation
states of these elements were examined.

Results and Discussions

The elements in Group 14 namely: carbon (C), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge),
Tin (Sn) and Lead (Pb) they are all have same oxidation state of +4 but as the
atomic number increases down the group their oxidation number are two times
lower than the maximum. Carbon is different from the elements of the same
group in that it is a non-metallic whereas both tin and lead appears to be metal
since they have the highest atomic mass in group 14. Lead has the oxidation
state of +2 whereas Tin has the oxidation state of +4. Their tendency of
appearing at an oxidation state that is two times lower than the maximum e.g.
+2 instead of +4 is referred to as “inert pair effect”.

In this experiment, it is proved that Lead and Tin can form a maximum of six
bonds with halogens, as it was said earlier in the abstract. The product or
complexes formed consists of six coordination numbers e.g. [PbCl6] ⁻2 and
[SnCl6] ⁻2.

Part 2 : equations describing what took place during the reactions

(a) PbO2(S) + 4HCl(aq) → PbCl2(s) + 2H2O(l)

A reaction forming yellow solution.

PbCl2(aq) + 2NH4Cl(s) → (NH4)2 [PbCl6](s)

Yellow crystals, ammonium hexachloroplumbate(IV)

(b) SnCl4(aq) + 2NH4Cl(aq) → (NH4)2(SnCl6)(s) White

crystals, ammonium hexachlorostnnate(IV)

Both complexes share the same coordination number which is six.

Part 3: different tests of ammonium hexachlorostannate and ammonium
hexachloroplumbate.

Reagent (NH4)2[PbCl6] test (NH4)2[SnCl6] test

Partially dissolve in water to form Dissolve in water to give a

brown solution colourless solution

(NH4)2(PbCl2)(s) + H2O(l) → (NH4)2[SnCl6](s) + H2O (l) →

H2O
PbO2(s) + 4HCl(l) + 2NH4Cl4(aq) NH4+(aq) + [SnCl6]2 ̶ (aq)

Form white precipitate and milky No reaction took place

liquid

(NH4)2[PbCl](s) + H2SO4(l) →
Conc.
H2SO4 PbCl4(s) + (NH4)2SO4((aq) +
2HCl(aq)

Dissolved completely and the Formed white precipitate and

solution is colourless slightly yellow liquid

Conc. HCl
(NH4)2[PbCl6](s) + HCl(aq) → (NH4)2[SnCl6](s) + HCl(aq) →
2NH4Cl(aq) + PbCl4(aq) 2NH4Cl(aq) + SnCl4(aq)
Answers to questions

1. The precipitate was lead(II) hydroxide, Pb(OH)2

2. The precipitate redissolved because of lead(II) hydroxide is a weak base
which dissociated to form Pb2+ under the circumstances of a weak acid.
the Pb2+ undergoes hydrolysis during alkaline conditions and forms
Pb(OH)4 2⁻ ion.
3. Pb(NO3)2(S) + 2NaOH(l) → Pb(OH)2(S) + 2NaNO2(aq)

Pb(OH)2(S) + 2NaOH(aq) → Pb(HO)4 2⁻(aq) + 2Na+(aq)

4. After the addition of sodium hypochlorite, the solution changed. The

reaction is Redox.
5. Pb(OH)4 2⁻(aq) + OCl⁻ (aq) → H2O(l) + PbO(s) +2OH⁻(aq) + Cl⁻(aq)
6. Because of the fact that it is a strong oxidising agent. During the reaction
with a metal it causes the product to appear at higher oxidation state e.d.
Pb2+ converted to Pb4+ in an acidic solution.
7. The reaction remained unchanged, hence there was no reaction. During
this reaction, the solution turned purple. This is caused by a presence of
Mn2+ ion being changed to MnO4⁻ ion in an acidic solution. Purple
colour dominates MnO4⁻
Conclusion

In this experiment the results for Lead and Tin concludes that these two are
differ in oxidation states. The results seemed to follow the main intention stated
earlier in the abstract. Therefore, the chemistry of lead and tin are not the same
although they are in the same group.

Answers to question 3.

1. the tendency of an atom to keep their s –electrons inert is called inert pair
effect. The electronic configuration of carbon family is ns2, np2. Carbon
and Silicon involve all the four electrons for covalent bond formation by
sp3 hybridization. And its oxidation state is always +4, but the bottom
elements like Sn and Pb has the tendency to keep their S electrons inert
(non-reactive) in chemical bond formation. Therefore, they show +2
oxidations shows along with +4. These phenomena shown by Sn and Pb
is called inert pair effect. This tendency increase from top to bottom.
Therefore, the bottom elements show +2 oxidation states. If the elements
in Group 4 form 2+ ions, they lose their p electrons, leaving the s2 pair
unused. For example, to form a lead(II) ion, lead loses its two 6p
electrons, but the 6s electrons are left unchanged, an "inert pair” effect.
This is more stable and more ionic. It means that the ionic characters
increase with increase in inert pair effect tendency. Since PbCl2 and
SnCl2 are ionic while PbCl4 and SnCl4 are covalent. PbCl2 will be more
ionic than SnCl2. Because Pb show greater inert pair effect than Sn.
 2. Shapes and structure of [SnCl5] ⁻ and [SnCl6]2⁻
(a) The shape of [SnCl5] ⁻ is trigonal bipyramidal and that of [SnCl6] 2⁻

(b) The bond formed are coordinate bond since both electron come from
halogens or ligands
(c) [CCl6]2⁻ cannot exist because carbon does not obey octet rule.

References

1. Brown A.L (1970), Elemental of Functional Analysis- Van Nostrand

Reinhold
2. Mackay K.M and Mackay R.A (1981), introduction to modern inorganic
chemistry 3rd edition, international.
3. Mcqune D.A and Rock P.A (1985), Descriptive Chemistry, W.H Freeman
and Company, New York