Law of multiple proportions

1804 observation in physical chemistry

In chemistry, the law of multiple proportions states that in compounds which contain two particular chemical elements, the amount of Element A per measure of Element B will differ across these compounds by ratios of small whole numbers. For instance, the ratio of the hydrogen content in methane (CH4) and ethane (C2H6) per measure of carbon is 4:3. This law is also known as Dalton's Law, named after John Dalton, the chemist who first expressed it.

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