Question

Is hydrocarbon combustion an oxidation reaction with respect to the carbon?

Answer 1

Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds consisting of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons undergo combustion reactions in which hydrocarbons react with oxygen gas in the atmosphere to form water and carbon dioxide. The carbon gets oxidized and oxygen gets reduced in the combustion reaction.

Complete answer:
Hydrocarbons are chemical compounds consisting of only carbon and hydrogen atoms. Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are the hydrocarbons that consist of only carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Alkanes react with oxygen gas present in the atmosphere to form water along with the liberation of carbon dioxide gas. Combustion reactions are the reactions in which alkanes react with oxygen gas to form water and carbon dioxide.
Let us consider a simple alkane methane, it has a chemical formula of $C{H_4}$ . It reacts with oxygen gas to form water and carbon dioxide.
The combustion reaction of methane can be as follows:
$C{H_4} + 2{O_2} \to C{O_2} + 2{H_2}O + \Delta$
The carbon atom in methane has a $- 4$ oxidation state. The carbon in carbon dioxide has a $+ 4$ oxidation state. Initially carbon has electrons but in the products electrons were changed from $- 4$ to $+ 4$ Thus, the carbon has loss of electrons which can be known as oxidation.
Thus, combustion of hydrocarbons undergoes oxidation with respect to the carbon.

Note:
Oxidation can have different definitions based on electrons, hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms. The loss of electrons is known as oxidation and the gain of electrons is known as reduction. Here carbon undergoes loss of electrons and oxygen undergoes gain of electrons.