Methane is an organic chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4 (one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen). It is the simplest alkane and the main component of natural gas. Methane is a colorless, odorless and combustible gas. The chemical formula for methane is
CH4. It burns with oxygen to make carbon dioxide (CO2). The equation for this reaction is
- CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2H2O
This is a balanced equation, which means the number of atoms on the left side equals the number of atoms on the right side. The purpose of a balanced chemical reaction is to determine the ratio of elements required to complete a reaction. This balanced equation shows that one molecule of methane requires two molecules of oxygen to make one molecule of carbon dioxide and two molecules of water.
| PHYSICAL DATA | |
| Boiling Point: -258.6°F (-161.4°C) | Liquid Density at Boiling Point: 26.5 lb/ft3 (424.5 kg/m3) |
| Vapor Pressure @ 70°F (21.1°C) = Above the critical temp. of -116.6°F (-82.6°C) | Gas Density at 70°F. 1 atm .0052 |
| Solubility in Water: Negligible | Freezing Point: -296,5°F (-182.5°C) |
| Evaporation Rate: N/A (Gas) | Specific Gravity (AIR=1) @ 70°F
(21.1°C) = 0.56 |
| Appearance and Odor: Colorless, odorless gas |