Question

identify the postulate of Dalton's theory that is violated by the following observations: 59.95% of one sample of titanium dioxide is titanium: 60.10 % of a different sample of titanium dioxide is titanium.

Answer 1

Answer: This violates the law of constant composition.

Explanation:

Dalton's theory is based on mainly two laws, which are law of conservation of mass and law of constant composition.

Law of constant composition states that a compound always contain the elements in the fixed ratio by their masses.

For Example: In water $(H_2O)$, the hydrogen and oxygen are present in the fixed ratio of 1 : 9 by their mass.

We are given:

A sample of titanium dioxide having 59.95 % of titanium and another sample of titanium dioxide having 60.10 % of titanium.

As, the compound is titanium dioxide. So, the mass percent of titanium must remain the same in both the elements.

Hence, this violates the law of constant composition.