Question

Why do the number of hydrogen atoms decreased is equal to the number of the oxygen atoms present in the product in the oxidation reaction of carbon compounds?
Give appropriate reason for the above question.

Answer 1

Dear student,

The number of hydrogen in reactant is equal tot he valency of carbon. As in methane, the carbon is attached to 4 hydrogens and during oxidation of methane it gives :
$C{H}_4+O_2\to C{O}_2+2H_{2}O$
The number of hydrogen reduced in the reactant side is equal to the number of oxygen in the product side because the molecule is formed according to the valency . The carbon bonded with 4 hydrogens in reactant side because hydrogen forms the single bond to 2 oxygen atoms because oxygen forms double bonds.

Regards