Explain controlled oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde.

Explanation

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)`