An important reaction for the conversion of natural gas to other useful hydrocarbons is the conversion of methane to ethane.
2CH4 (g) †’ C2H6 (g) + H2 (g)
In practice, this reaction is carried out in the presence of oxygen, which converts the hydrogen produced to water.
2 CH4 (g) + ½ O2 (g) †’ C2H6 (g) + H2O (g)
Use Table 8.4 to estimate for these two reactions. Why is the conversion of methane to ethane more favorable when oxygen is used?

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TABLE 8.4 Average Bond Enthalpies (kJ/mol) Single Bonds C H с-с C -N с_o C F C CI C Br 391 163 201 272 O-Cl 203 200 243 463 146 190 413 348 293 358 485 328 276 240 259 N-H 155 O-O OF CI-F CI-CI 253 N-F N-CI N Br 242 O-I 234 237 218 193 S H Br-Cl 436 SF 567 431 366 299 339 327 253 218 266 S-Cl S Br S-S C S HF H-Cl H -Br H-I I-CI I-Br 208 175 151 Si-H Si Si Si-C Si-。 Si Cl 323 226 301 368 464 Multiple Bonds 614 839 615 891 799 1072 495 418 941 607 S O 523 418 C N C O