`SnCl_2` is an ionic solid while `SnCl_4` is a covalent liquid at room temperature - Explain.

Explanation

In `SnCl_4` the oxidation state of Sn is +4 which represents very small ionic size and quite high nuclear charge giving rise to high polarising power of the cation. So `SnCl_4` is covalent in nature .But for `SnCl_2`,Sn is in +2 oxidation state i.e. cation is bigger in size and carry less positive charge resulting low polarising power of the cation. Thus `SnCl_2` is ionic in nature.