Ytterbium(II) chloride (YbCl<sub>2</sub>) is an inorganic chemical compound. It was first prepared in 1929 by W. K. Klemm and W. Schuth, by reduction of ytterbium(III) chloride, YbCl<sub>3</sub>, using hydrogen.
Like other Yb(II) compounds and other low-valence rare earth compounds, it is a strong reducing agent. It is unstable in aqueous solution, reducing water to hydrogen gas.