Stannane or tin hydride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SnH4. It is a colourless gas that ignites on contact with air. SnH4 is a heavy analogue of methane but much less robust. In contrast to this rarely used species, stannane also refers to a large collection of organotin compounds.
Preparation and reactions Stannane can be prepared by the reaction of and lithium aluminium hydride according to the following idealized equation:
Stannane decomposes slowly at room temperature to give metallic tin and hydrogen.
Organotin hydrides are more stable, e.g. triphenyltin hydride, also known as triphenylstannane.
Occurrence in industry Stannane is produced in EUV machines in the semiconductor industry from the reaction of molten tin with hydrogen gas during the laser-induced generation of specific wavelengths of light required for photolithography. The volatility of the stannane gas is a controlled parameter in the production of microchips.
See also
Organotin
References