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Question
essay: explain how methane (ch₄) and ethane (c₂h₆) demonstrate the law of definite composition and the law of multiple proportions.
Brief Explanations
- Law of Definite Composition: Methane (\(CH_4\)) always has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms in its molecule, and ethane (\(C_2H_6\)) always has two carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. No matter how these compounds are prepared or where they are found, the ratio of atoms (by number) of carbon to hydrogen in \(CH_4\) is \(1:4\) and in \(C_2H_6\) is \(2:6 = 1:3\). This fixed atomic ratio for each compound shows the law of definite composition (a chemical compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by mass, which is also reflected in the fixed atomic ratios in the formula).
- Law of Multiple Proportions: Methane (\(CH_4\)) and ethane (\(C_2H_6\)) are two compounds composed of the same two elements (carbon and hydrogen). For a fixed mass of carbon (say, take the amount of carbon in \(CH_4\) as a reference), the ratio of hydrogen in \(CH_4\) to hydrogen in \(C_2H_6\) is a simple whole - number ratio. If we consider the ratio of hydrogen atoms per carbon atom: in \(CH_4\) it is \(4\) hydrogen atoms per \(1\) carbon atom, and in \(C_2H_6\) it is \(3\) hydrogen atoms per \(1\) carbon atom. The ratio of hydrogen atoms (\(4:3\)) when considering a fixed amount of carbon (on a per - carbon - atom basis) is a simple whole - number ratio, which demonstrates the law of multiple proportions (when two elements combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are in a simple whole - number ratio).
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Methane (\(CH_4\)) and ethane (\(C_2H_6\)) demonstrate the law of definite composition as their atomic ratios ( \(C:H = 1:4\) for \(CH_4\) and \(C:H= 1:3\) for \(C_2H_6\)) are fixed. They demonstrate the law of multiple proportions as the ratio of hydrogen atoms per carbon atom (\(4:3\)) is a simple whole - number ratio when considering the two compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen.