Question

Which one of the following pairs of compounds illustrate the law of multiple proportions?

• A. $H_{2}O,N{a}_{2}O$
• B. $MgO,N{a}_{2}O$
• C. $N{a}_{2}O,BaO$
• D. $SnC{l}_2,SnC{l}_4$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $SnC{l}_2,SnC{l}_4$

According to the law of multiple proportions, "if two elements chemically combine with each other forming two or more compounds with different compositions by mass then the ratios of masses of two interacting elements in the two compounds are small whole numbers".

Different proportions of chlorine in the various chlorides of tin prove the law of multiple proportions.
Thus, $SnC{l}_2,SnC{l}_4$ illustrate the law of multiple proportions.

119 g of tin combine with 71 g of chlorine to form 190 g of $SnC{l}_2$.
The ratio of masses $Sn:Cl$ is $119:71$.

119 g of tin combine with 142 g of chlorine to form 261 g of $SnC{l}_4$.
The ratio of masses $Sn:Cl$ is $119:142$.

The two ratios are in the proportion of $142:71=2:1$.