Law of Definite Proportions : Welcome, curious minds, to the intriguing world of chemistry! As we embark on our scientific journey, we encounter fundamental principles that lay the groundwork for our understanding of the behaviour of matter.
Among these principles stands the Law of Definite Proportions, a cornerstone of chemical combination. In this article, we will explore the essence and significance of this law in simple terms tailored to students like you.
The Law of Definite Proportions was formulated by the French chemist Joseph Proust in the late 18th century. Through meticulous experiments, Proust discovered that compounds always have fixed compositions, leading to the establishment of this fundamental law.
The Law of Definite Proportions states that a chemical compound is composed of elements in fixed proportions by mass . In other words, regardless of the source or method of preparation, a compound always contains the same elements in the same proportionsExample: 1 , carbon dioxide can be obtained by a number of methods, such as
(i) By burning coal or candle C + O 2 → CO 2 (ii) By heating limestone (CaCO 3 )Example:2 Water can be obtained from different sources but the ratio of weight of H and O remains same.
Q1. 1.80 g of a certain metal burnt in oxygen gave 3.0 g of its oxide. 1.50 g of the same metal heated in steam gave 2.50 g of its oxide. Show that these results illustrate the law of constant proportion.
Sol. In the first sample of the oxide,
Wt. of metal = 1.80 g, wt. of oxygen = (3.0 –1.80)g = 1.2 g
∴Note: This law is not applicable in case of isotopes.