Discussion
The oxidation numbers of carbon and hydrogen in methane are respectively
Answer: C
The oxidation numbers are -4 and +1.
In CH4, hydrogen bonded to a non-metal has oxidation number +1. The molecule is neutral, so the oxidation numbers must add to zero:
\[ \begin{aligned} x + 4(+1) &= 0 \\ x &= -4 \end{aligned} \]
Carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen, which is why it carries the negative value. Any option giving carbon +4 or hydrogen 0 or -1 breaks this rule; hydrogen is -1 only in metal hydrides such as NaH.
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