1. CH3OH (Methanol)
* Hydrogen (H): Hydrogen usually has an oxidation number of +1.
* Oxygen (O): Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2.
* Let 'x' be the oxidation number of carbon (C):
The sum of the oxidation numbers in a neutral molecule must equal zero. Therefore:
(1 * 4) + (x * 1) + (-2 * 1) = 0
4 + x - 2 = 0
x = -2
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon in CH3OH is -2.
2. HCOOH (Formic Acid)
* Hydrogen (H): Hydrogen usually has an oxidation number of +1.
* Oxygen (O): Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of -2.
* Let 'x' be the oxidation number of carbon (C):
Again, the sum of oxidation numbers must equal zero:
(1 * 1) + (x * 1) + (-2 * 2) + (1 * 1) = 0
1 + x - 4 + 1 = 0
x = 2
Therefore, the oxidation number of carbon in HCOOH is +2.
