Daltons Law of multiple proportion

Some elements that are combined in different proportions form different compounds.

A+B AB, AB
The fixed mass of element A can be combined with a variable mass expressed in ratio of small whole numbers of element B.

EXAMPLE 1: Element A is Carbon(12g) and element B is Oxygen (16g).

In this example the fixed mass is the mass of Carbon.

COMPOUND 1 - CO Carbon Monoxide COMPOUND 2 - CO Carbon dioxide

O:C O:C
1:1 2:1

O 1 x mass 0 2 x mass
C 1 x mass C 1 x mass

The periodic table shows that Carbon has a mass of 12 (grams) and Oxygen 16 (grams)
In compound 2 we need to multiply the mass of oxygen by two.
We put carbon as the denominator.
Also at the denominator we write 1g of Carbon which is the fixed mass

O 16 = 1.33g O 32 = 2.66g
C 12 1g C 12 1g

Carbon Oxygen
1g + 1.33g = Carbon monoxide
x2
1g + 2.66g = Carbon dioxide
For every gram of Carbon we need 1.33g of Oxygen to form Carbon monoxide. Double the mass of oxygen for every gram of
Carbon and we form Carbon Dioxide.

2.66g =2 Oxygen is in ratio of small whole numbers.

1.33g

EXAMPLE 2: Element A is Nitrogen and element B is Oxygen

Atomic mass of Nitrogen: 14 (14.0067) Atomic mass of Oxygen: 16 (15.9994)

In this example the fixed mass is the mass of Nitrogen.

Compound 1 - Nitrous Oxide Compound 2 - Nitric Oxide Compound 3 - Nitrogen Dioxide

N + N + O =NO N + O = NO N + O + O = NO
2:1 1:1 1:2
O 15.9994g = 0.5711g O 15.9994g = 1.1422g O 31.9988g = 2.2845g
N 28.0134g 1g N 14.0067g 1g N 14.0067g 1g

Nitrogen Oxygen
1g + 0.5711g x2 = Nitrous Oxyde
1g + 1.1422g = Nitric Oxyde
1g + 2.2845g x2 = Nitrogen Dioxide

2.2845 =2 1.1422 =2 2.2845 = 4

1.1422 0.5711 0.5711 Oxygen is in ratio of small whole numbers.