Carbon is found to form two oxides, which contain 42.9% and 27.3% carb

Carbon is found to form two oxides, which contain 42.9% and 27.3% carbon respectively. Show that these figures illustrate the law of multiple proportions.

Answer»

% composition of carbon in different oxides –

In the first oxide, 57.1 part by mass of oxygen with 42.9 parts by mass of carbon

Therefore-1 part oxygen will combine with carbon=42.9/57.1=0.751

Similarly In the second oxide contains oxygen72.7 parts with 27.3 parts carbon

One part oxygen combines with carbon =27.3/72.7=0.376

The ratio of the masses of carbon that combine with the same mass oxygen is =0.751:0.376

Or 2:1, since this is a simple whole numbers ratio, so the above data illustrate the law of multiple proportions.