Final answer:
The student's question seems to confuse the context of law with chemistry, but the chemical concept of the ratio between HCOOH and HCOO is discussed, stating that it is approximately 1 when x is a small value, indicating nearly equal concentrations of the acid and its conjugate base.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question mentions the ratio in Cooke v Oxley, which seems to be mistakenly related to a legal case rather than a chemical concept. Nevertheless, based on the provided information relating to a chemical equilibrium involving HCOOH (formic acid) and HCOO (formate ion), we can clarify the concept of the ratio in this context.
When dealing with a weak acid like HCOOH, which partially dissociates into HCOO and H+ ions in solution, the extent of dissociation is often represented by an equilibrium constant. If x represents the small amount of HCOOH that dissociates, the ratio of the concentrations of HCOOH to HCOO would be (1+x) to (1-x). However, since x is a small value, the ratio can be approximated to 1, meaning that the concentrations of HCOOH and HCOO are nearly equal under the conditions of this approximation.