Which one of the following laws expains the formation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from carbon and oxygen?

The formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from carbon and oxygen is explained by the Law of Multiple Proportions. This law states that if two elements combine to form more than one compound, the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of the other are in a ratio of small whole numbers [t3]. In CO, 12g of carbon combines with 16g of oxygen, while in CO2, 12g of carbon combines with 32g of oxygen [t1]. The ratio of oxygen masses (16:32) simplifies to 1:2, a simple whole number ratio, thus illustrating the law [t1]. While the Law of Definite Proportions ensures each specific compound has a fixed mass ratio (e.g., 1:8 for water), the Law of Multiple Proportions specifically addresses the relationship between different compounds formed by the same pair of elements [t2][t3].