Question

A chemist decomposes several samples of carbon monoxide into carbon and oxygen and weighs the resultant elements. The results are shown below:

Sample
Mass of Carbon (g)
6,12,18
Mass of Oxygen
(g) 8,16,24
Part A
Do you notice a pattern in these results?

Answer 1

The mass of carbon and oxygen pair from the decomposition of carbon monoxide has an obvious pattern of 3 carbon : 4 oxygen. This can be explained by the balanced chemical equation of the decomposition of CO.

6g carbon : 8g oxygen
12g carbon : 16g oxygen
18g carbon : 24g oxygen

These all results to a common ration of 3g C is to 4g O2