25 " mL of " a mixture of Co, `CO_(2)` and `H_(2)` were exploded mL with 10 " mL of " oxygen. The products has a volume of 18.5 " mL of " which 17 mL absorbed by alkali. What was the composition of the original mixture? All volume measurements were made at the same temperature and pressure?

Explanation

Let `V_(1)` mL, `V_(2)mL` and `V_(3)mL` be the volumes of `CO,CO_(2)` and `H_(2)` respectively. Then `V_(1)+V_(2)+V_(3)=25`
Contraction after explosion`=(25+10-18.5)mL`
`=16.5mL`
`(V_(1))/(2)+(3V_(3))/(2)=16.5`
Absorption `-=17mL=V_(1)+V_(2)`. Solving these, we have
`V_(3)=8mL`,
`V_(1)=9mL and V_(2)=8mL`
`thereforeCO:CO_(2):H_(2)=9:8:8`