The oxidation number of carbon in `CH_(4)` is

Options

A. 0
B. -2
C. 3
D. -4

Explanation

To determine the oxidation number of carbon in methane (CH₄), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Compound**: We are looking at methane, which has the chemical formula CH₄.

2. **Assign Oxidation Number to Carbon**: Let’s denote the oxidation number of carbon as \( x \).

3. **Assign Oxidation Number to Hydrogen**: In compounds, hydrogen typically has an oxidation number of +1.

4. **Set Up the Equation**: Since methane is a neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation numbers must equal zero. Therefore, we can set up the equation:
\[ x + (4 \times (+1)) = 0 \]

5. **Simplify the Equation**: This simplifies to:
\[ x + 4 = 0 \]

6. **Solve for \( x \)**: To find \( x \), we rearrange the equation:
\[ x = -4 \]

7. **Conclusion**: The oxidation number of carbon in CH₄ is -4.

### Summary:
The oxidation number of carbon in CH₄ is -4.