Carbon is found to form two oxides, which contain 42.9% and 27.3% if carbon respectively. Show that these figures illustrate the law of multiple proportions.

Carbon is found to form two oxides, which contain 42.9% and 27.3% if c

1.	Carbon is found to form two oxides, which contain 42.9% and 27.3% if carbon respectively. Show that these figures illustrate the law of multiple proportions.
Answer» Solution :To calculate the percentage composition of carbon and oxygen in each of the two oxides `{:(,"First oxide","Second oxide"),("Carbon",42.9%,27.3%"(Given)"),("Oxygen",57.1%,72.7%"(by difference)"):}` Step 2. To calculate the masses of carbon which combine with a fixed mass, i.e., ONE part by mass of oxygen in each of the two oxides. In the first oxide, 57.1 parts by mass of oxygen combine with carbon = 42.9 parts. `therefore " 1 part by mass of oxygen will combine with carbon "=(42.9)/(57.1)=0.751`. In the second oxide. 72.7 parts by mass of oxygen combine with carbon = 27.3 parts. `therefore " 1 part by mass of oxygen will combine with combine with carbon"=(27.3)/(72.7)=0.376` Step 3. To COMPARE the masses of carbon which combine with the same mass of oxygen in both the oxides. The ratio of the masses of carbon that combine with the same mass of oxygen (1 part) is 0.751 : 0.376 or `2:1` SINCE this is a simple whole number RATION, so the above data illustrate the law of multiple proportions.