Which equation represents the standard enthalpy of formation of liquid methanol?

A.     \({\text{C(g)  +  2}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)  +  }}\frac{1}{2}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{OH(l)}}\)

B.     \({\text{C(g)  +  4H(g)  +  O(g)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{OH(l)}}\)

C.     \({\text{C(s)  +  4H(g)  +  O(g)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{OH(l)}}\)

D.     \({\text{C(s)  +  2}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)  +  }}\frac{1}{2}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{(g)}} \to {\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{OH(l)}}\)

D

This was a fair question with half the students answering it correctly. It was a definition question on the standard enthalpy of formation of liquid methanol but almost 40% of the candidates selected choice A where carbon is given in the gaseous state, not its solid under standard conditions.