Which of the following statements indicates that law of multiple proportion is being following?
The element, carbon combines with oxygen to form two compounds, namely carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. In CO2,12 parts by mass of carbon combine with 32 parts by mass of oxygen while in CO, 12 parts by mass of carbon combine with 1.6 parts by mass of oxygen.
Therefore, the masses of oxygen combine with a fixed mass of carbon (12 parts) in CO2, and co are 32 and 16 respectively. These masses of oxygen bear a simple ratio of
32 : 16 or 2 : 1, to each other.
This is an example of law of multiple proportion.