Let's analyze the composition of the given organic compounds:
1. Methane \((CH_4)\):
- Methane is composed of one carbon atom (C) and four hydrogen atoms (H).
- Chemical formula: \(CH_4\).
2. Butane \((C_4H_{10})\):
- Butane consists of four carbon atoms (C) and ten hydrogen atoms (H).
- Chemical formula: \(C_4H_{10}\).
Now let's consider the given options:
1. They contain both carbon and hydrogen.
- Let's check:
- Methane contains both carbon and hydrogen.
- Butane contains both carbon and hydrogen.
2. They contain only carbon.
- Let's check:
- Methane contains hydrogen in addition to carbon.
- Butane contains hydrogen in addition to carbon.
- Therefore, this statement is incorrect as both compounds contain elements other than just carbon.
3. They contain only hydrogen.
- Let's check:
- Methane contains carbon in addition to hydrogen.
- Butane contains carbon in addition to hydrogen.
- Therefore, this statement is incorrect as both compounds contain elements other than just hydrogen.
Since we have scrutinized the elements present in both methane and butane, we can conclude with certainty that the statement "They contain both carbon and hydrogen" is correct.
Thus, the commonality between methane \((CH_4)\) and butane \((C_4H_{10})\) is:
They contain both carbon and hydrogen.
