45. The following data was collected for 3 compounds: Mass of Nitrogen that combines with 1 g of Oxygen
Compound A 1.750 g
Compound B 0.8750 g
Compound C 0.4375 g
Show whether these are the same or different compounds. What chemical law is being observed here?

The three compounds are different compounds

Explanation:

The mass of Nitrogen that combines with 1 gram of Oxygen in  Compound A = 1.750 g

The mass of Nitrogen that combines with 1 gram of Oxygen in  Compound B  = 0.8750 g

The mass of Nitrogen that combines with 1 gram of Oxygen in  Compound C  = 0.4375 g

According to the law of multiple proportions, when atoms of two different elements react to form compounds, the masses of one of the elements that combines with a fixed mass of the other element are in small whole number ratios.

The ratio of the masses are;

Mass of Nitrogen in Compound B/(Mass of Nitrogen in Compound C =  0.8750/0.4375 = 2

Mass of Nitrogen in Compound A/(Mass of Nitrogen in Compound C =  1.750/0.4375= 4

Mass of Nitrogen in Compound A/(Mass of Nitrogen in Compound B =  1.750/0.8750= 2

Given that the masses of Nitrogen in the three compounds are in small whole number ratios, the three compounds, Compound A, Compound B, and Compound C are different compounds.