Question

By means of the given analytical results show that law of multiple proportions is true.

Mercurous chloride	Mercuric chloride
Mercury = 84.92 %	Mercury = 73.80%
Chlorine =15.08 %	Chlorine = 26.20%

Answer 1

Law of multiple proportion states that when two elements combine to form two or more compouds, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element, are in the ratio of small whole numbers.

$\underset{–}{\text{Case}1:}$ Mercurous chloride.

$Hg=84.92\%$ $Cl=15.08\%$

$1g$ of $Hg$ combines with $\frac{15.08}{84.92}=0.178g$ of $Cl⟶1$

$\underset{–}{\text{Case}2:}$ Mercurous chloride.

$Hg=73.8\%$ $Cl=26.2\%$

$1g$ of $Hg$ combines with $\frac{26.2}{73.8}=0.35g$ of $Cl⟶2$

Form $\left(1\right)$ and $\left(2\right)$,

The ratio of $1g$of $Hg$ that reacts with $1g$ of $Cl$ is $0.178:0.35\equiv 1:1.96\equiv 1:2$