Question

Write the equation which describe controlled oxidation of methane to form the following:

a) methyl alcohol

Answer 1

Methane (Alkane) on heating with a controlled amount of air/oxygen at high pressure $\left(100\mathrm{atm}\right)$ and in the presence of $\mathrm{Cu}$ as a catalyst at ${250}^{°}\mathrm{C}$ gives methyl alcohol.

$\underset{\mathbf{Methane}}{\underbrace{\mathbf{2}{\mathbf{CH}}_{\mathbf{4}}}}\mathbf{+}{\mathit{O}}_{\mathbf{2}}\underset{\mathbf{100}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{m}}{\overset{\mathbf{Cu}\mathbf{/}\mathbf{250}\mathbf{°}\mathbf{C}}{\mathbf{\to }}}\underset{\mathbf{M}\mathbf{e}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{h}\mathbf{y}\mathbf{l}\mathbf{}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{l}\mathbf{c}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{h}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{l}\mathbf{\left(}\mathbf{M}\mathbf{e}\mathbf{t}\mathbf{h}\mathbf{a}\mathbf{n}\mathbf{o}\mathbf{l}\mathbf{\right)}}{\underbrace{\mathbf{2}\mathbf{C}{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{3}}\mathbf{O}\mathbf{H}}}$