Process for the production of tin(IV) chloride

In a process for the production of tin(IV) chloride by reacting excess metallic tin with chlorine in the presence of liquid tin(IV) chloride at temperatures of 20.degree. to 90.degree. C., under atmospheric pressure or elevated pressure, in which process chlorine is passed from below into a tin/chlorine reaction zone, the tin(IV) chloride formed is removed at the top from the tin/chlorine reaction zone and is reintroduced into said reaction zone from below after cooling and in which as much tin(IV) chloride is discharged as is required from the level of tin(IV) chloride in the tin/chlorine reaction zone to remain constant, the improvement which comprises passing in, per dm.sup.3 of tin(IV) chloride present in the tin/chlorine reaction zone, 30 to 300 dm.sup.3 (S.T.P.)h.sup.-1 of chlorine, maintaining an excess of tin of at least four times the weight of the chlorine passed in per hour, and recycling, per 1 dm.sup.3 (S.T.P.)h.sup.-1 of chlorine passed in, 0.08 to 0.3 dm.sup.3 h.sup.-1 of tin(IV) chloride, tin(IV) chloride which is taken out of circulation being treated in an aftertreatment zone without the addition of chlorine at a temperature of 60.degree. to 100.degree. C. and for an average residence time of 1 to 7 h, said aftertreatment zone comprising at least one reaction chamber filled with metallic tin and tin(IV) chloride, the thus-aftertreated tin(IV) chloride product being then filtered.