Thomson proportions

Thomas Thomson was an early advocate of Dalton's atomic theory. In the paper on which this exercise is based, Thomson presented the combining proportions of several substances and discussed them in light of Dalton's ideas. For example, he noted that 2.23 grains of hydrogen reacts with excess sulfur to produce 35.89 grains of "sulphuretted hydrogen" gas. Using a modern periodic table, find the molar ratio of hydrogen to sulfur in this compound and determine its empirical formula.

Reference

Thomas Thomson (1773-1852), "On the Daltonian Theory of Definite Proportions in Chemical Combinations," Annals of Philosophy 2, 32-43 (1813)


Copyright 2003 by Carmen Giunta. Permission is granted to reproduce for non-commercial educational purposes.

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