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.
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).