This ratio reflects the chemical composition of water, where each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Since the atomic masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 1 and 16 respectively, the ratio of their masses in water is 1:8.
Can you explain why the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water is always 1:8 by mass?
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The ratio of hydrogen to oxygen in water is always 1:8 by mass because water, regardless of its source or how it’s produced, is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Since the atomic masses of hydrogen and oxygen are 1 and 16 respectively, the ratio becomes 1:8.