Applications
Tin(II) chloride is widely used as a reducing agent in organic synthesis, for example conversion of quinones into hydroquinones, nitroaromatics into aromatic amines, and in Stephen reduction. It can be used to reduce certain metal salts into metals, tin plating, analytical testing of mercury ions, formation of silver mirrors and metal-metal bonds. It is also used for tin-plating, as a mordant in textile dyeing and as a catalyst in the production of polylactic acid. Further it is used as a food additive, wherein it serves as an anti-oxidant and a color retention agent. It can be used in the condensation of aryl aldehydes with cyclohexan-1,3-diones to synthesize xanthenes. It catalyzes direct conversion of aldehydes into beta-keto esters.

Solubility
Soluble in ethanol, acetone, ether and tetrahydrofuran. Insoluble in xylene.

Notes
Tin(II) chloride is very freely soluble in cold water. If the volume of water increases or at hot condition it hydrolyses to form an insoluble hydroxide derivative.