Methane

Methane is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH
₄. It is an alkane with one carbon atom. It is often found as the main part of natural gas. Methane is a greenhouse gas^[4][5] 23 times more effective than carbon dioxide. It is also less stable and slowly oxidates by oxygen to carbon dioxide and water.

Methane

Ball and stick model of methane Spacefill model of methane
Names
Preferred IUPAC name Methane[1]
Systematic IUPAC name Carbane (never recommended[1])
Other names Marsh gas Natural gas Carbon tetrahydride Hydrogen carbide
Identifiers
CAS Number	74-82-8 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
3DMet	B01453
Beilstein Reference	1718732
ChEBI	CHEBI:16183 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL17564 Y
ChemSpider	291 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.739
EC Number	200-812-7
Gmelin Reference	59
KEGG	C01438?
MeSH	Methane
PubChem CID	297
RTECS number	PA1490000
UN number	1971
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID8025545
SMILES C
Properties
Chemical formula	CH4
Molar mass	16.04 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless gas
Odor	Odorless
Density	0.657 g·L−1 (gas, 25 °C, 1 atm) 0.717 g·L−1 (gas, 0 °C, 1 atm) 422.62 g·L−1 (liquid, −162 °C)[2]
Melting point	−182.5 °C; −296.4 °F; 90.7 K
Boiling point	−161.50 °C; −258.70 °F; 111.65 K[3]
Solubility in water	22.7 mg·L−1
Solubility	Soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, benzene, toluene, methanol, acetone and insoluble in water
log P	1.09
kH	14 nmol·Pa−1·kg−1
Conjugate acid	Methanium
Conjugate base	Methyl anion
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	−12.2×10−6 cm3·mol−1
Structure
Point group	Td
Molecular shape	Tetrahedron
Dipole moment	0 D
Thermochemistry
Std enthalpy of formation ΔfHo298	−74.87 kJ·mol−1
Std enthalpy of combustion ΔcHo298	−891.1 to −890.3 kJ·mol−1
Standard molar entropy So298	186.25 J·(K·mol)−1
Specific heat capacity, C	35.69 J·(K·mol)−1
Hazards
NFPA 704	4 2 0
Explosive limits	4.4–17%
Related compounds
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

It is a gas at 25 degrees Celsius at standard atmosphere (a specific pressure).

Uses

Methane is used in gas taps in places such as kitchens, chemistry classrooms, laboratories and more, as it burns very easily because of its simple molecular structure.

Molecular structure

Methane's molecular structure is very simple. It is a single carbon atom surrounded by four hydrogen atoms.

Production

Methane can be made by many chemical ways, but usually is found in natural gas and is obtained by fractional distillation, after it has become liquid.