Methane and ethane are both made up of carbon and hydrogen. In methane, there are 12.0 g of carbon for every 4.00 g of hydrogen, a ratio of 3:
1 by mass. In ethane, there are 24.0 g of carbon for every 6.00 g of hydrogen, a ratio of 4:
1 by mass. This is a statement of the law of _.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement about the ratios of carbon and hydrogen in methane and ethane is an example of multiple proportions, which is a fundamental principle of chemistry that states that when two elements can combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are in ratios of small whole numbers. This principle is also known as Dalton's law of multiple proportions.

Methane and Ethane Are Both Made Up of Carbon and Hydrogen