Stannous chloride is an inorganic compound made from the soft metal known as tin. The economically significant substance is utilized in a variety of applications, but primarily electroplating, the dyeing of textiles, tin galvanizing, and removing ink stains. Stannous chloride is also sometimes added to foods as a preservative and to oils as an antisludge agent. The compound typically exists as colorless crystals that decompose under high levels of heat. Stannous chloride is soluble in less than its own weight of water, but in the presence of large amounts of water, it forms an insoluble basic salt.