Does Palladium and Sulfur Demonstrate the Law of Multiple Proportions?

[Bashyboy]

Homework Statement

The Problem goes as follows:

Palladium forms three different compounds with sulfur. The mass of sulfur per gram of palladium in each compound is listed below:

Compound Grams S per Gram Pd
A 0.603
B 0.301
C 0.151

Show that these masses are consistent with the law of multiple proportions.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I feel as though this is a trick question: when I venture to find the ratio between C and B I come up with 2; but, when I multiple 3 by .151, I don't come out with .603. As I type this I am beginning to feel that I don't quite understand the ratio. Could some explain to me if this problem follows the Law of Multiple proportion; and, if so, how? And also, why doesn't multiplying .151 by 3 yield .603? Thank you

 

[symbolipoint]

Compound Grams S per Gram Pd
A 0.603
B 0.301
C 0.151

Notice how each of the three ratios of S to Pd is different. A is two times B, and B is two times C.

 

[Borek]

why doesn't multiplying .151 by 3 yield .603?

Because it yields 0.453?

Seriously: law of multiple proportions says that ratios are small integers, it doesn't say they have to be consecutive.

 

[Bashyboy]

Thank you both.

 

[DeeNos]

for your time

The Law of Multiple Proportions states that when two elements combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other element are in a ratio of small whole numbers. In this case, the element sulfur is combining with the element palladium to form three different compounds.

To determine if this problem follows the Law of Multiple Proportions, we need to look at the ratios between the masses of sulfur and palladium in each compound.

For compound A, the ratio is 0.603 grams of sulfur per 1 gram of palladium.
For compound B, the ratio is 0.301 grams of sulfur per 1 gram of palladium.
For compound C, the ratio is 0.151 grams of sulfur per 1 gram of palladium.

We can see that the ratios between the masses of sulfur and palladium in each compound are all small whole numbers (2, 1, and 0.5). This is consistent with the Law of Multiple Proportions, as the ratios are all in a simple integer ratio.

The confusion with the multiplication of 0.151 by 3 may be due to rounding errors. The actual mass of sulfur per gram of palladium in compound C may not be exactly 0.151, but rather a slightly different value that when multiplied by 3, yields a slightly different value than 0.603. However, this does not affect the validity of the ratios and their consistency with the Law of Multiple Proportions.

In conclusion, the masses of sulfur per gram of palladium in each compound are consistent with the Law of Multiple Proportions, as the ratios between the masses are in simple integer ratios.