which chemical law makes this statement?
2007-03-21 17:04:43 · 4 answers · asked by Sebastian 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Carbon monoxide is one molecule of carbon and one of oxygen.
Carbon has an atomic mass of about 12, and oxygen about 16. So the mass ratio is 12:16 or 3:4.
2007-03-21 17:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by Carl D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In everyday samples, to a high degree of accuracy, this is true, because each molecule of CO is made up out of one carbon atom (C) and one oxygen atom (O), which weigh 12 and 16 atomic mass units respectively. So C:O = 12:16 = 3:4.
However there exist radioactive isotopes of carbon and oxygen that can skew this number. You could make a batch carbon-13 CO in a laboratory that would have a mass ratio of 13:16. These isotopes are present in the environment (though in very small amounts) so the real ratio on a real sample won't ever be exactly 3:4 anyway.
2007-03-22 00:09:49 · answer #2 · answered by Tom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well look at the atomic mass of each. It is 12amu for carbon, and 16amu for oxygen. Then look at the ratio of number of carbon to number of oxygen. It is 1:1. So multiply the weight by the respective substance, and voila: 12:16 = 3:4
2007-03-22 00:10:43 · answer #3 · answered by badaerozepstones 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lol this is just plain oll stoichiometry (or however you spell it)
2007-03-22 00:13:03 · answer #4 · answered by night_fox51 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋