Moreover, redox reactions of alkanes involving free radical intermediates, in particular with oxygen and the halogens, are possible as the carbon atoms are in a strongly reduced state; in the case of methane, carbon is in its lowest possible oxidation state (−4).
moːɹˈoʊvɚ, ɹᵻdˈɑːks ɹɪˈækʃənz ʌv ˈælkeɪnz ɪnvˈɑːlvɪŋ fɹˈiː ɹˈædɪkəl ˌɪntɚmˈiːdiəts, ɪn pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚ wɪð ˈɑːksɪdʒən ænd ðə hˈælədʒənz, ɑːɹ pˈɑːsᵻbəl æz ðə kˈɑːɹbən ˈæɾəmz ɑːɹ ɪn ɐ stɹˈɔŋli ɹᵻdˈuːst stˈeɪt; ɪnðə kˈeɪs ʌv mˈɛθeɪn, kˈɑːɹbən ɪz ɪn ɪts lˈoʊɪst pˈɑːsᵻbəl ˌɑːksɪdˈeɪʃən stˈeɪt mˈaɪnəs fˈoːɹ.