Question

There are two different compounds of sulfur and fluorine.

In SF6, the mass of fluorine per gram of sulfur is 3.55 g F/g S.
In the other compound, SFX, the mass of fluorine per gram of sulfur is 1.18 g F/g S.
What is the value of X for the second compound?
Express your answer as an integer.

Answer 1

1.18 x 3 = 3.55
find ratio of F to F in each compound
. according to law of multiple proportions that the masses of one element which combine with a fixed mass of the second element are in a ratio of whole numbers.
now F is "one element" and S has "fixed mass",
the ratio of F6 to Fx = 3:1
thats why x= 2
there is less F in SFx
the ratio is 3:1.
dividing 6 by 3 and you get 2