Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is the simplest alkane and the main constituent of natural gas. Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that occurs abundantly in nature and as a product of certain human activities. Here are some key properties and uses of methane:
Properties:
- Methane is lighter than air, having a specific gravity of 0.554.
- It is only slightly soluble in water.
- Methane burns readily in air, forming carbon dioxide and water vapor; the flame is pale, slightly luminous, and very hot.
- Methane is very stable, but mixtures of methane and air, with the methane content between 5 and 14 percent by volume, are explosive.
- Methane is a very effective greenhouse gas, being 28 times more effective (averaged over 100 years) at trapping infrared radiation than carbon dioxide.
Uses:
- Methane is an important source of hydrogen and some organic chemicals.
- Methane is used as a fuel in a gas turbine or steam generator for electricity generation.
- Compared to other hydrocarbon fuels, methane produces less carbon dioxide for each unit of heat released.
- Methane reacts with steam at high temperatures to yield carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which is used in the manufacture of ammonia for fertilizers and explosives.
- Other valuable chemicals derived from methane include methanol, chloroform, and more.
Methane is also a greenhouse gas, responsible for around 30% of the rise in global temperature and climate system. Methane is emitted from a variety of anthropogenic (human-influenced) and natural sources, including landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes. Methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, accounting for about 20% of global emissions.
