Question

${\mathrm{CH}}_4+2{\mathrm{O}}_2\stackrel{∆}{\to }{\mathrm{CO}}_2+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ Is it a redox reaction?

If yes, give a reason.

Answer 1

Given reaction is:

${\mathrm{CH}}_4+2{\mathrm{O}}_2\stackrel{∆}{\to }{\mathrm{CO}}_2+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$

This reaction is a process of burning in which energy is produced in a large amount in the form of heat.

This reaction is also a redox reaction as carbon is getting oxidised and oxygen is getting reduced.

As we can observe by their oxidation state which is as follows:

${\mathrm{C}}^{-4}{\mathrm{H}}_4^{+1}+2{\mathrm{O}}_2^0\stackrel{∆}{\to }{\mathrm{C}}^{+4}{\mathrm{O}}_2^{-2}+2{\mathrm{H}}_2^{+1}{\mathrm{O}}^{-2}$

As we can observe carbon has an oxidation state of -4 in methane and it is oxidizing to an oxidation state of +4, similarly, the oxygen has an oxidizing state of 0 in its gaseous state while after reaction it gets reduced to -2

Oxidation: This is the process in which oxygen is added to a substance or hydrogen is getting released from a substance.

Reduction: This is the process in which hydrogen is added to a substance or oxygen is getting released from a substance.