Which one of the following set of compounds correctly illustrates the law of reciprocal proportions?

Which one of the following set of compounds correctly illustrates the law of reciprocal proportions?
  1. P2O3, PH3 and H2O
  2. P2O5,PH3 and H2O
  3. N2O5,NH3 and H2O
  4. NO2,NH3 and H2O

Solution

The element O and H combine separately with the third element P to form P2O3 and PH3 respectively and directly combine to form H2O. In PH3, 31 parts by mass of P combine with 3 parts by mass of H and in P2O3, 62  parts by mass of P combine with 48 parts by mass of O. Thus the masses of H and O which combines with fixed mass of H(say 62 parts by mass) are 6 and 48 and they bear the ratio of 1:8

Now in H2O, 2 parts by mass of H combines with 16 parts by mass of O. So, they combine in ratio 2:16 which is equal to 1:8 which is same as the first ratio.

Asked in: MHT CET 2023 (09 May Shift 2)

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