methane
Sign in to saveMethane ( , ) is a chemical compound that has the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The abundance of methane on Earth makes it an economically attractive fuel, although capturing and storing it is difficult because it is a gas at standard temperature and pressure. In the Earth's atmosphere methane is transparent to visible light but absorbs infrared radiation, acting as a greenhouse gas. Methane is an organic hydrocarbon, and among the simplest of organic compounds.
AI overview
Methane is a simple chemical compound made of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, and it's the main ingredient in natural gas, making it a valuable fuel source. In Earth's atmosphere, methane traps heat by absorbing infrared radiation, which makes it a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, though it's difficult to capture and store because it's naturally a gas.
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Article
36 sectionsContents
- Properties and bonding
- Chemical reactions
- Selective oxidation
- Acid–base reactions
- Combustion
- Methane radical reactions
- Uses
- Fuel
- Rocket propellant
- Chemical feedstock
- Refrigerant
- Generation
- Geological routes
- Biological routes
- Wetlands
- Ruminants
- Seafloor sediments
- Industrial routes
- Laboratory synthesis
- Occurrence
- Atmospheric methane and climate change
- Clathrates
- Public safety and the environment
- Extraterrestrial methane
- Interstellar medium
- Mars
- Titan
- History
- Etymology
- Abbreviations
- Safety
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
- Cited sources
- External links
Methane ( , ) is a chemical compound that has the chemical formula (one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms). It is a group-14 hydride, the simplest alkane, and the main constituent of natural gas. The abundance of methane on Earth makes it an economically attractive fuel, although capturing and storing it is difficult because it is a gas at standard temperature and pressure. In the Earth's atmosphere methane is transparent to visible light but absorbs infrared radiation, acting as a greenhouse gas. Methane is an organic hydrocarbon, and among the simplest of organic compounds.
Naturally occurring methane is found both below ground and under the seafloor and is formed by both geological and biological processes. The largest reservoir of methane is under the seafloor in the form of methane clathrates. When methane reaches the surface and the atmosphere, it is known as atmospheric methane.