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Laws of Chemical Combination Formula

The Laws of Chemical Combination are fundamental principles that describe how substances react and combine in chemical reactions. They include the Law of Conservation of Mass, and the Law of Definite Proportions.
authorImageSawat Sayyed19 Sept, 2023
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Laws of Chemical Combination Formula

Chemistry is the study of matter's transformation from one form to another. These transformations often occur due to combining two different types of matter. Known as laws of chemical combination , these rules govern the combination of different elements. Specific basic rules govern the combination of different elements to form compounds.

Basic Laws of Chemical Combinations

Five basic laws of chemical combination govern the chemical combinations of elements.
  1. Law of Conservation of Mass
The Law of conservation of mass was formulated by French Chemist Antoine Lavoisier in 1789. It states that mass in an isolated system can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This is why we must balance a chemical equation when performing a reaction; the sum of reactant masses will always equal the sum of product masses. Dalton's atomic theory explains this law further, suggesting that atoms are indivisible and thus cannot be created or destroyed during a chemical change.
  1. Law of Definite Proportions
In a chemical substance, mass always arranges elements in a definite proportion. John Dalton's theory also explained the law of constant proportions. John Dalton's theory states that atoms are constant in a compound based on their relative numbers and kinds. This statement confirms the law of constant proportions.Known also as the law of constant proportions, the law of definite proportions was proposed by Joseph Proust in 1799.
- % of copper % of oxygen % of carbon
Natural sample 51.35 9.74 38.91
Synthetic sample 51.35 9.74 38.91
  1. Law of Multiple proportions
John Dalton proposed the law of multiple proportions in 1804. In this law, elements combine to form two or more than two different kinds of compounds, and the masses of these elements in these compounds are in the ratio of small whole numbers. According to Dalton's atomic theory, compounds are formed when atoms combine in a ratio of small whole numbers.

Also Check - Nucleophile formula

Example: Hydrogen + oxygen = water 2g + 16g = 18 g Hydrogen + oxygen = hydrogen peroxide 2g + 32g = 34g Here the masses of oxygen which combines with the same mass of hydrogen makes a ratio of 1:2

Also Check - Rutherford’s Atomic Model Formula

Despite its limitations, this law is best suited to simple compounds only. For example, if we take a hydrocarbon like decane(C10H22), 10 grams of C will react with 18.6 grams of H, with a ratio of hydrogen masses of about 121:120, making a hard ratio. Polymers and oligomers do not work with this method either.
  1. Gay Lussac’s Law of Gaseous Volumes
1808 Gay Lussac formulated the law of combining volumes based on his studies. This rule asserts that when gases are created or combined in a chemical reaction, they do so in simple proportions by volume given that the temperature and pressure remain constant. This concept is similar to the law of definite proportions; however, Gay Lussac's Law is described in terms of volume rather than mass.

Also Check - Tyndall Effect Formula

The mathematical formula of the law is as follows: P ∝ T; P/T = k, Where P stands for the pressure exerted by the gas T that the temperature of the gas k is a constant
  1. Avogadro’s Law
Avogadro’s law was given by Amedeo Avogadro in 1811. According to this law, equal volumes at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of moles of gases. It means that 2 litres of oxygen and 2 litres of nitrogen will contain the same numbers of moles if measured at the same temperature and pressure. The mathematical representation for this gas law is as follows: V ∝ n k = V/n Where k is proportionality constant, V is the volume of a gas and n is the number of moles of a gas. thus, V1/n1 = V2/n2

Laws of Chemical Combination Formula FAQs

What are the Laws of Chemical Combination?

The Laws of Chemical Combination are fundamental principles that describe how substances combine and react with each other in chemical reactions. There are three main laws: the Law of Conservation of Mass, the Law of Definite Proportions, and the Law of Multiple Proportions.

What is the Law of Conservation of Mass?

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products. This means that atoms are neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction; they are rearranged to form new substances.

What is the Law of Definite Proportions?

The Law of Definite Proportions asserts that a chemical compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by mass, regardless of the source or method of preparation. This law helps define the unique composition of chemical compounds.

What is the Law of Multiple Proportions?

The Law of Multiple Proportions states that when two elements combine to form different compounds, the ratios of the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element can be expressed as small whole numbers. This law is particularly relevant when elements can form multiple compounds with each other.

Why are the Laws of Chemical Combination important?

These laws are crucial in understanding and predicting chemical reactions. They provide a solid foundation for stoichiometry, allowing scientists and chemists to precisely calculate the quantities of substances involved in chemical reactions and design experiments.
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