The reducing power of SnCl₂ and its hydrolysis in water. • Tin (II) chloride, SnCl₂ also known colloquially as stannous chloride, is a strong reducing agent. It’s reducing properties are actually used in the preparation of mirrors. The silver or aluminium used for the reflective surface won’t directly attach to glass, so the process involves covering the glass in a SnCl₂ solution, before adding a salt of silver such as silver nitrate. The tin chloride reduces the nitrate to deposit silver on the