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what is the law of definite composition in chemistry

by Prof. Juston Rohan Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Key Points

  • The law of definite composition was proposed by Joseph Proust based on his observations on the composition of chemical compounds.
  • Proust proposed that a compound is always composed of the same proportions of elements by mass.
  • Though initially controversial, the law of definite composition was supported by Dalton’s atomic theory.

noun. Chemistry. the statement that in a pure compound the elements are always combined in fixed proportions by weight.

Full Answer

What does the law of composition tell us?

law of definite compositionA law that states that chemical compounds are formed of constant and defined ratios of elements as determined by mass. elementAny one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means, and are made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.

Does a mixture obey the law of definite composition?

Some substances are not pure and do not obey the law of definite composition. These are called mixtures. Example: Pure water (pure substance) vs. Salt water (mixture) Law of Definite Composition Slide 8 / 121 Example: Pure water (pure substance) vs. Salt water (mixture)

What is a substance that has a definite composition?

The best examples of pure substances are pure elements, molecules, and compounds:

  • Hydrogen gas.
  • Gold metal.
  • Sugar (sucrose)
  • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
  • Ammonia.
  • Diamond.
  • Copper wire.
  • Silicon chip.

What does the law of definite proportions say?

The law of definite proportions, also known as the law of constant proportions, states that the individual elements that constitute a chemical compound are always present in a fixed ratio (in terms of their mass). This ratio does not depend on the source of the chemical compound or the method through which it was prepared.

What is law of definite proportions in chemistry?

Definition of law of definite proportions : a statement in chemistry: every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight.

What is the law of definite composition and give an example?

The Law of Definite Proportions states that a chemical compound will always have the same proportions or amount of each element by weight, no matter what the amount is, or source. For instance, a 50-gram sample of carbon monoxide will have 21.5 g of carbon and 28.5 g of oxygen.

What does the law of definite state?

The law of definite proportions states that a given chemical compound always contains the same elements in the exact same proportions by mass.

Why is law of definite composition important?

The Law of Definite Proportions ensures that chemical compounds are always created using the same proportions, regardless of the amount of the compound which is being made.

What is the law of definite proportion Class 11?

law of definite proportion states that in a given compound elements are combined in a fixed ratio by mass.

What is the law of definite proportions Class 9?

The law of definite proportions, also known as the law of constant proportions, states that the individual elements that constitute a chemical compound are always present in a fixed ratio (in terms of their mass).

Who created the law of definite composition?

Joseph ProustThe Law of Constant Composition, discovered by Joseph Proust, is also known as the Law of Definite Proportions.

What is law of definite and multiple proportion?

Law of multiple proportions, also known as Dalton s Law, states that when one element combines with another to form more than one compound, the mass rations of the elements in the compounds are simple whole numbers of each other.

What is the law of definite proportions and how does it apply to this experiment?

The law of definite proportions states that when two or more elements combine to form a given compound, they do so in fixed proportions by mass. This is the same as saying the composition of a compound is fixed. For example, sodium chloride contains 39.3% by mass sodium and 60.7% by mass chlorine.

Who identify the law of definite proportion?

Although many experimenters had long assumed the truth of the principle in general, the French chemist Joseph-Louis Proust first accumulated conclusive evidence for it in a series of researches on the composition of many substances, especially the oxides of iron (1797).

What are some examples of non-stoichiometric compounds?

There are some non-stoichiometric compounds that exhibit a variable composition from one sample to another. An example is wustite, a type of iron oxide that may contain 0.83 to 0.95 iron per each oxygen.

What is the law of multiple proportions?

This law, together with the law of multiple proportions, is the basis for stoichiometry in chemistry. In other words, no matter how a compound is obtained or prepared, it will always contain the same elements in the same mass proportion. For example, carbon dioxide (CO 2) always contains carbon and oxygen in a 3:8 mass ratio.

What is the law of constant composition?

In chemistry, the law of constant composition (also known as the law of definite proportions) states that samples of a pure compound always contain the same elements in the same mass proportion. This law, together with the law of multiple proportions, is the basis for stoichiometry in chemistry.

Which scientist believed that all elements could combine in any proportion?

Considering John Dalton' s atomic theory was only just beginning to explain that each element consisted of one type of atom and at the time, most scientists still believed elements could combine in any proportion, Proust's deductions were exceptional.

Who discovered the constant composition?

Law of Constant Composition History. Discovery of this law is credited to the French chemist Joseph Proust, who through a series of experiments conducted from 1798 to 1804 concluded that chemical compounds consisted of a specific composition. Considering John Dalton's atomic theory was only just beginning to explain that each element consisted ...

What was the term for a meal of roasted meat?

In the 1700s, "barbecue" referred to an outdoor meal of roasted meat or fish as a social entertainment.

What are some words that are near the law of definite composition?

Words nearby law of definite composition. law of averages, law of conservation, law of contiguity, law of contradiction, law of cosines, law of definite composition, law of diminishing marginal utility, law of dominance, law of effect, law of excitation, law of excluded middle.

What is the law that either a proposition or its denial must be true?

Logic. the law that either a proposition or its denial must be true.

What does "chemistry" mean?

noun. Chemistry. the statement that in a pure compound the elements are always combined in fixed proportions by weight. Logic. the law that either a proposition or its denial must be true.

Where did Tuxedo get its name?

Tuxedo was given its name after gaining popularity among diners at Tuxedo Park, NY.

Where is submission set?

Submission is set in a France seven years from now that is dominated by a Muslim president intent on imposing Islamic law.

Who said we will uphold the law in Florida?

A few days later, Bush replied, “We will uphold the law in Florida.”

Law of Definite Proportions

The discovery that mass was always conserved in chemical reactions was soon followed by the law of definite proportions, which states that a given chemical compound always contains the same elements in the exact same proportions by mass. As an example, any sample of pure water contains 11.19 % hydrogen and 88.81 % oxygen by mass.

Summary

The law of definite proportions states that a given chemical compound always contains the same elements in the exact same proportion by mass.

Contributors and Attributions

CK-12 Foundation by Sharon Bewick, Richard Parsons, Therese Forsythe, Shonna Robinson, and Jean Dupon.

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