Question

Consider 100.0 g samples of two different compounds consisting only of vanadium and oxygen. one compound contains 61.4 g of vanadium and the other has 76.1 g of vanadium. find the ratio:

Answer 1

2:1

Step-by-step explanation:

The Law of Multiple Proportions states that when two elements A and B combine to form two or more compounds, the masses of B that combine with a given mass of A are in the ratios of small whole numbers.

That is, if one compound has a ratio r₁ and the other has a ratio r₂, the ratio of the ratios r is in small whole numbers.

1. Compound 1

Mass of O = 100.0 - 61.4 = 38.6 g

`r_(1) = \frac{\text{mass of O}}{\text{mass of V}} = ( 38.6)/(61.4) = 0.6287`

2. Compound 2

Mass of O = 100.0 - 76.1 = 23.9 g

`r_(2) = ( 23.9)/(76.1) = 0.3141`

3. Ratio of the ratios

`r = (r_(1))/(r_(2)) = ( 0.6287)/(0.3141) = (2.00)/(1) \approx 2\\\\\text{The relative amounts of O per gram of V are in the ratio }\boxed{\mathbf{(2)/(1)}}`

For example. the compounds might be VO₂ and VO.