Question

Two samples of carbon tetrachloride were decomposed into their constituent elements. One sample produced 38.9 g of carbon and 463 g of chlorine, and the other sample produced 14.8 g of carbon and 144 g of chlorine. Part A Are these results consistent with the law of definite proportions?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Firstly, defining Law of definite proportion which states that in any chemical compound, the elements are the same and are in the same proportion by mass. It is also called Proust's law.

In sample A;

38.9 g of carbon

463 g of chlorine

In sample B;

14.8 g of carbon

144 g of chlorine.

Sample A, Ratio of mass of Carbon to mass of Chlorine

= 38.9 : 463

= 0.084

Sample B, Ratio of mass of Carbon to mass of Chlorine

= 14.8 : 144

= 0.103

These results above show that the ratio of the masses of Carbon to Chlorine in both samples A and B are not the same so therefore, the results are not consistent with the law of definite proportion.