Final answer:
The ratio of the masses of oxygen combined with carbon is 2.6667:1.3333 or simplified to 2:1, reflecting the formation of carbon dioxide in the first experiment and carbon monoxide in the second experiment, aligning with the law of multiple proportions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ratio of the masses of oxygen combined with carbon in EXPERIMENT 1 and EXPERIMENT 2 can be calculated by comparing the amount of oxygen that reacts with a fixed mass of carbon in each experiment. In EXPERIMENT 1, 80 g of oxygen reacts with 30 g of carbon, which gives us a ratio of oxygen to carbon of 80/30 = 2.6667. For EXPERIMENT 2, 40 g of oxygen reacts with 30 g of carbon, yielding a ratio of oxygen to carbon of 40/30 = 1.3333.
Considering the fact that in carbon dioxide (CO2) there is a mass ratio of oxygen to carbon of 2.6667 to 1 and in carbon monoxide (CO) the ratio is 1.3333 to 1, we can say that the results from the two experiments suggest the formation of carbon dioxide in the first and carbon monoxide in the second experiment, consistent with the law of multiple proportions. The ratio of the masses of oxygen to carbon for the two experiments (CO2:CO) is therefore 2.6667:1.3333 or simply 2:1.