I have this question that ask to prove law of multiple proprtion.

Question

Consider 100.0-g samples of two different compounds consisting only of carbon and oxygen. One compound contains 25.9 g of carbon, and the other has 41.1 g of carbon. How can these data support the law of multiple proportions if 41.1 is not a multiple of 25.9?

Show that these data support the law of multiple proportions.

ratio #1 (compound 1): ___(g carbon/g oxygen)

ratio #2 (compound 2): ___(g carbon/g oxygen)

ratio #2 / ratio #1: __

significant figures apply

Answer 1

ratio #1 (compound 1): ___(g carbon/g oxygen):

mass of oxygen = 100- 25.9 = 74.1 g 25.9 g carbon / 74.1 g oxygen = 0.350

ratio #2 (compound 2): ___(g carbon/g oxygen):

mass of oxygen = 100- 41.1 = 58.9 g 41.1 g carbon / 58.9 g oxygen = 0.698

ratio #2 / ratio #1: __: 0.698 / 0.350 = 2

The Law of Multiple Proportion states: When two elements form two different compounds, the mass ratio of the elements in one compound is related to the mass ratio in the other by a small whole number.

In this example, the mass ratio of CO₂ (compound 2) is two times of the mass ratio of CO (compound 1).