The Law of Variable Proportion has universal applicability in any branch of production. The law of definite proportions dictates that a name is always associated with a specific ratio of elements found in a chemical compound. Solving Law of Multiple Proportions Problems While the ratio in this example problem worked out to be exactly 2:1, it's more likely chemistry problems and real data will give you ratios that are close, but not whole numbers. If the ratio of elements is different from that specific ratio then it is not the same compound and therefor has a different name. For each of the two you can, as you realised set up a law of definite proportions which often gives you a rather weird rational ratio. The main objectives of this study are:(1) to elaborate a framework based on a rationalreconstruction of developments that led to theformulation of the laws of definite and multipleproportions; (2) to ascertain students' views of the two laws; (3) For example, iron can react with chlorine to give two different chlorides: $\ce{FeCl2}$ and $\ce{FeCl3}$. The law of multiple proportions now states that some elements are special. The whole-number ratio is consistent with the law of multiple proportions. It forms the basis of a number of doctrines in economics. Because it defines that all water molecules are H_2O, for example.