Eighty-one percent of the heat of combustion of methane comes from the electronegativity of oxygen, and 19% from the special stability of product CO₂ molecules caused by the delocalization of electrons.

Combustions of all types with oxygen are very exothermic because oxygen is quite electronegative and draws electrons to it (a feature shared with fluorine), and the oxide of carbon is given extra stability by delocalization (not shared by F). The special electronic properties of CO₂ make up, in part, for the scarcity of F in the universe and our having to settle for a second-best oxidant. Voltaire's Dr. Pangloss was right; this is almost the best of all possible worlds!