What happens when methane reacts with conc. `HNO_(3)` at high temperature?

Options

A. Nitromethane is formed
B. Methanol is formed.
C. `CO_(2) and H_(2)O` are formed.
D. CO and `H_(2)O` are formed.

Explanation

To determine what happens when methane reacts with concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃) at high temperature, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants
- The reactants in this reaction are methane (CH₄) and concentrated nitric acid (HNO₃).

### Step 2: Understand the Nature of HNO₃
- Concentrated nitric acid is a strong oxidizing agent and can act as an electrophile. It contains the nitronium ion (NO₂⁺), which is the active electrophile in this reaction.

### Step 3: Electrophilic Substitution Reaction
- The reaction between methane and concentrated nitric acid is an electrophilic substitution reaction. In this process, the electrophile (NO₂⁺) will attack the electron-rich methane.

### Step 4: Reaction Mechanism
- In the reaction, the hydrogen atom of methane (CH₄) is replaced by a nitro group (NO₂). The reaction can be represented as:
\[ CH₄ + HNO₃ \rightarrow CH₃NO₂ + H₂O \]
- Here, CH₃NO₂ is nitromethane, which is the product formed from the substitution of one hydrogen atom in methane with a nitro group.

### Step 5: Final Product
- The main product of the reaction is nitromethane (CH₃NO₂). Additionally, water (H₂O) is produced as a byproduct.

### Conclusion
- When methane reacts with concentrated nitric acid at high temperature, the primary product formed is nitromethane (CH₃NO₂).

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