An element forms two oxides containing 50% and 40% of the element by mass. Prove that the results are in agreement with the law of multiple proportions.

An element forms two oxides containing 50% and 40% of the element by m

1.	An element forms two oxides containing 50% and 40% of the element by mass. Prove that the results are in agreement with the law of multiple proportions.
Answer» Solution :In the first oxide, the PERCENTAGE of element is 50. This means that 50 g of element combine with 100 - 50 = 50 g of oxygen. Let us calculate the amount of oxygen that combines with a fixed amount (say 100 g) of the element. The amount of oxygen that combines with 100 g of element = `50/50 XX 100 = 100 g` In the second oxide, the percentage of the element is 40. This means that 40 g of element combine with 60 g of oxygen. `therefore`The amount of oxygen that combines with 100 g of element `=60/40 xx 100 = 150 g` Now, the amounts of oxygen that combine with 100 g of element in the TWO cases are respectively 100 g and 150 g. The ratio in these amounts is 2 : 3 which is a simple whole number ratio. Thus, the results are in agreement with the LAW of multiple proportions.