CH4 + O2 -> CO2 + H2O
So I've been watching a few videos on this, and I think I'm starting to get it, and it seems to be a bit easier than I first thought.
So, adding in the oxidation state numbers of everything, I get:
C(-4) H(+1) + O2(0)
C(+4) O(-2) + H(+1) O(-2)
Carbon starts out with a -4 charge, and on the right, ends up with a +4 charge, so it ended up losing 4 electrons, correct?
Hydrogen starts out with a +1 charge, and ends up with a +1 charge, so I disregard that altogether for the oxidation/reduction equations?
O2 starts out with 0 charge, and ends up turning into two Oxygen molecules, each with a -2 charge. (-2) + (-2) = 0, so I disregard this as well?
So the oxidation half-reaction would be C(-4)
C(+4) .
uh..+4e
- ?
EDIT: Wait a mo, the Oxygen would be the reduction half-reaction. So (-2) + (-2) = (-4), so it gained +4e
-?
EDIT 2: No wait, +2e
-, because you don't add the two -2's together, they count as one -2.