Question

On what basis the laws of chemical combinations can be explained?

Answer 1

Dalton's atomic theory:

• All the matters are made up of small, indivisible particles called 'atoms'.
• For each element in a given compound, the relative number of atoms is always the same.
• Compounds are always composed of atoms of more than one element.
• A chemical reaction only involves the rearrangement of atoms. Atoms are not created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Laws of Chemical combinations:

• When the substances react, they have to follow certain laws and these laws are called the laws of chemical combination.
• The laws of chemical combinations are explained on the basis of Dalton's atomic theory
• The five basic laws of chemical combinations are the Law of Conservation of Mass, Law of Definite Proportions, Law of Multiple Proportions, Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes, and Avogadro’s Law.
• The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the matter can neither be created nor destroyed.
• According to the Law of Definite Proportions, the elements by weight in a given compound will always remain the same.
• The Law of Multiple Proportions states that if two elements combine to form more than one compound, the masses of these elements in the reaction are in the ratio of small whole numbers.
• Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes states that when gases are produced or combined in a chemical reaction, they do so in the simple ratio by volume given that all the gases are at the same temperature and pressure.
• Avogadro’s Law states that, under the same conditions of temperature and pressure, an equal volume of all the gases contains an equal number of molecules.

Therefore, the laws of chemical combinations can be explained on the basis of Dalton's atomic theory