Carbon and oxygen are known to form two compounds. The carbon content in one of these is `42.9%` while in the other it is `27.3%`. Show that this data is in agreement with the law of multiple proportions.

Explanation

Ist oxide
Mass of carbon = 42.9 g
Mass of oxygen = 100-42.9 = 57.1 g
Second oxide
Mass of carbon = 27.3g
Mass of oxygen = 100-27.3 = 72.7 g
Let us fix the mass of carbon as 1 g
In first oxide,
Mass of oxygen combining with 42.9 g of carbon
= 57.1 g
Mass of oxygen combining with 1g of carbon
`=(57.1)/(42.9)= 1.33`g
In second oxide,
Mass of oxygen combining with 27.3 g of carbon
= 72.7 g
Mass of oxygen combining with 1g of carbon `=(72.7)/(27.3) = 2.66`g
Ratio of oxygen combining with 1 g of carbon
`1/33 : 2.66`
`1:2`
This is a simple whole number ratio and therefore, it is in segment with law of multiple proportions.