Explain controlled oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde.

1.	Explain controlled oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde.
Answer» Solution :Alkanes on heating with limited amounts of air or oxygen at HIGH pressure and in the PRESENCE of SUITABLE catalysts GIVE a number of oxidation products . `2underset("Methane")(CH_(4)) + O_(2) underset(100 atm)overset(CU//250^(@)C)(rarr) underset("Methyl alcohol(Methanol)")(2 CH_(3) OH)` `underset("Methane")(CH_(4)) + O_(2) underset(" "Delta" ")overset(MO_(2)O_(3)//275^(@)C)(rarr) underset("Fomaldehyde(Methanol)")(HCHO + H_(2) O)`

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