[Qaiphyx]

Whats a faster way to dissolve tin with hydrochloric acid without using nitric acid?

The reaction with concentrated hydrochloric acid is quite slow, and I honestly havent been able to find anything on this topic.

Edit: Guess I should clarify that I mean is there a way to speed up the reaction with hydrochloric acid, other than adding nitric acid.

[Enthalpy]

The standard means is to have the metal finely divided: as a powder, turnings...

Besides that, if you want just hydrochloric acid, you can only adjust the temperature and concentration.

Or would you accept an additive other than nitric acid?

[CobaltBlue]

I have an idea... I tried dissolving tin, and yes it is slow.  I also was trying to dissolve nickel, very slow also.  I didn't want to use nitric acid, as I don't have any, and at the moment I don't want to deal with that.

After much thinking, I thought of increasing the temperature.  I used a beaker on a hot plate set to around 1 or 2, but too much of either the water or HCL was boiling off fast.  So I tried using a boiling flask with a rubber stopper with a small hole.  Voila! I boiled the nickel button (a flattened sphere) for 3 days, (better than waiting potentially for several months!) till it was gone.  Not only that, little of the liquid boiled away.

I bought a boiling flask that had an extra long neck, which I think also helps keep the liquid in. 

Also, I tried boiling it at a setting of 2 which made the solution boil like mad, so I turned it down so there were few bubbles from the solution and mostly from the nickel. 

Yes, 3 days is a long time, but it is MUCH better than the alternative.
So try that with tin.  I am going to try it. 

[Enthalpy]

Would it be conceivable to let electricity speed up the reaction?

Use tin as the + electrode, something unreactive (graphite, stainless steel...) as the - electrode, inject a good intensity and be patient. Use big flat electrodes close to an other.

Make sure that potentially evolved Cl₂ can escape where you don't breathe, and that evolved H₂ can't accumulate. If Sn reacts, Cl₂ shouldn't evolve.

Opinions welcome! Don't trust me on such topics.

[Qaiphyx]

I have an idea... I tried dissolving tin, and yes it is slow.  I also was trying to dissolve nickel, very slow also.  I didn't want to use nitric acid, as I don't have any, and at the moment I don't want to deal with that.

After much thinking, I thought of increasing the temperature.  I used a beaker on a hot plate set to around 1 or 2, but too much of either the water or HCL was boiling off fast.  So I tried using a boiling flask with a rubber stopper with a small hole.  Voila! I boiled the nickel button (a flattened sphere) for 3 days, (better than waiting potentially for several months!) till it was gone.  Not only that, little of the liquid boiled away.

I bought a boiling flask that had an extra long neck, which I think also helps keep the liquid in. 

Also, I tried boiling it at a setting of 2 which made the solution boil like mad, so I turned it down so there were few bubbles from the solution and mostly from the nickel. 

Yes, 3 days is a long time, but it is MUCH better than the alternative.
So try that with tin.  I am going to try it.

Revolutionary....