Methane

| Subject classification: this is a chemistry resource.

|

| Completion status: this resource is a stub, which means that pretty much nothing has been done yet.

|

| Educational level: this is a research resource.

|

| Type classification: this is an article resource.

|

## Discovery

[edit | edit source]

Methane was first synthesized from carbon and hydrogen in 1904 by a Russian-American chemist, Vladimir Ipatiev (1867-1952).[1]

## Properties

[edit | edit source]

Methane is the major component of natural gas, about 87% by volume. At room temperature and standard pressure, methane is a colorless, odorless gas;[2] the smell characteristic of natural gas as used in homes is an artificial safety measure caused by the addition of an odorant, often methanethiol]] or ethanethiol. Methane has a boiling point of −161 °C (−257.8 °F) at a pressure of one Atmosphere (unit)|atmosphere.[3] As a gas it is flammable only over a narrow range of concentrations (5–15%) in air. Liquid methane does not burn unless subjected to high pressure (normally 4–5 atmospheres).[4]

## Quick Facts

[edit | edit source]

Name: Methane

Formula: CH4

Melting Point:

Boiling Point: -161.6 celsius

Appearance:

Molar Mass:

Shape: tetrahedryl

## Reference

[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ David A. Hensher, Kenneth J. Button (2003). Handbook of transport and the environment. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 168. ISBN 0080441033. http://books.google.com/books?id=yp3qEgHrsJ4C&pg=PA168.
3. ↑ NIST Chemistry Webbook
4. ↑ Ayhan Demirbas (2010). Methane Gas Hydrate. Springer. p. 102. ISBN 1848828713. http://books.google.com/books?id=WFefWAq1Sh0C&pg=PA102.

## See Also

[edit | edit source]

* Methane on wikipedia