Question

What would you predict to be the valence number and oxidation number of tin?

Answer 1

Answer:

Tin exists in two oxidation states, +4 and +2. Elemental tin is readily oxidized to the dipositive ion in acidic solution, but this Sn2+ ion is converted to the Sn4+ ion by many mild oxidizing agents, including elemental oxygen. Oxidation under alkaline conditions normally gives the tetrapositive (Sn4+) state.