Question

Carbon dioxide contains 27.27% carbon, carbon disulphide contains 15.97% carbon and sulphur dioxide contains 50% sulphur. Show that these figures illustrate the law of reciprocal proportions.

Answer 1

In $C{O}_2,$ $27.27\%$ $C$ and $72.73\%$ $O$ is present.

Ratio of $C$ to $O=C:O=27.27:72.73=1:2667⟶\left(i\right)$

In $C{S}_2,$ $15.97\%$ $C$ and $84.03\%$ of $S$ is present.

Ratio of $C$ to $S=C:S$

$1g$ of $C$ combines with $=\frac{84.21}{15.79}=5.33g$ of $S⟶\left(ii\right)$

The ratio of different masses of $S\&O$ combining with fixed mass of $C$ is $5.33:2.67$ i.e. $2:1⟶\left(iii\right)$

In $S{O}_2,$ $50\%$ of sand $50\%$ of $O$ is present.

$\therefore$ Rate of $S$ to $O=50:50=1:1⟶\left(iv\right)$

The data illustrates the law of reciprocal proportions.

The ratio of different masses of $S$ and $O$ combining with fixed mass of carbon is a simple whole number.