1. Identify the Formula:
* Tin chloride has two common forms:
* Stannous chloride (SnCl₂): This is tin(II) chloride.
* Stannic chloride (SnCl₄): This is tin(IV) chloride.
2. Count the Atoms:
* SnCl₂: 1 tin atom (Sn) + 2 chlorine atoms (Cl) = 3 atoms
* SnCl₄: 1 tin atom (Sn) + 4 chlorine atoms (Cl) = 5 atoms
Therefore, a molecule of tin chloride contains either 3 atoms (for SnCl₂) or 5 atoms (for SnCl₄), depending on the specific form.
