Question

When carbon is oxidized in a small amount of oxygen, the principle product formed is carbon monoxide (co). when the oxidation occurs in a higher concentration of oxygen, the principle product formed is carbon dioxide (co2). the mass ratio of oxygen to carbon in carbon dioxide (co2) is twice the mass ratio of oxygen to carbon in carbon monoxide (co)?

Answer 1

It generally does not mean that there is double the oxygen, but in this case there is double, because the subscript number tells how many atoms of that element are in a particle. In this case, there are two of the oxygen, hence the DI-oxide verbiage, and one of the carbon. When there is only one, it's MONOxide, to indicate only one atom.