Question

synthesize carbon combines with oxygen to form two compounds, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. based on the law of multiple proportions, describe how the proportions of oxygen in the two compounds relate to each other.

Explanation:

The law of multiple proportions states that when two elements form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are in the ratio of small whole - numbers. In carbon monoxide (CO), the ratio of carbon to oxygen by mass is approximately 12:16. In carbon dioxide (CO₂), the ratio of carbon to oxygen by mass is approximately 12:32. The mass of oxygen that combines with a fixed mass of carbon in carbon dioxide is exactly twice the mass of oxygen that combines with the same fixed mass of carbon in carbon monoxide.

Answer:

The mass of oxygen in carbon dioxide that combines with a fixed mass of carbon is twice the mass of oxygen in carbon monoxide that combines with the same fixed mass of carbon.