Question

Carbon is ground to form two oxides which contains 42.9 % and 27.3% carbon respectively.Show that this figure illustrate the law of multiple proportions.

Answer 1

It states that the masses of one element which combine with fixed mass of second element are in a ration of whole number therefore the masses of oxygen in the two compounds that combine with fixed mass of carbon should be in a whole number ration $100$ gram of first compound contains $42.9$% of carbon and $57.1$% oxygen.

so $42.9$ gram of carbon and $57.1$ gram of oxygen

the mass of oxygen per gram of carbon is $\frac{57.1}{42.9}=1.33$gram $O$ per gram $c$

the $100$ gram of second compound there are $72.7$ gram of $O$ and $27.3$ gram of $C$

the mass of oxygen per gram of carbon is $\frac{72.7}{27.3}=2.66$ gram $O$ per gram $C$

The mass fraction $=\frac{2.66}{1.33}=2:1$

the whole number ratio is consistent with the law of multiple.