Understanding the Law of Constant Proportions in Chemistry

The law of constant proportions, also known as the law of definite proportions, states that chemical compounds are composed of elements in fixed ratios by mass. This means that any pure sample of a compound will always consist of the same elements in the same mass ratio, regardless of its source. This law was discovered by Joseph Proust and is fundamental to understanding the composition of chemical compounds.

• Chemical compounds consist of elements in fixed ratios by mass
• Joseph Proust discovered the law of constant proportions