Methane
Methane
Methane (pronounced: /ˈmɛθeɪn/) is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4 (one atom of carbon and four atoms of hydrogen). It is a group-14 hydride and the simplest alkane, and is the main constituent of natural gas.
Etymology
The word "methane" is derived from the Greek words "methy" meaning wine, and "hydor" meaning water. It was first isolated by Italian physicist Alessandro Volta between 1776 and 1778 when studying marsh gas from Lake Maggiore.
Properties
Methane is a tetrahedral molecule with four equivalent C–H bonds. Its electronic structure is described by four bonding molecular orbitals (MOs) resulting from the overlap of the valence orbitals on C and H. The lowest energy MO is the result of the overlap of the 2s orbital on carbon with the in-phase combination of the 1s orbitals on the four hydrogen atoms.
Uses
Methane is used in industrial chemical processes and may be transported as a refrigerated liquid (liquefied natural gas, or LNG). While leaks from a refrigerated liquid container are initially heavier than air due to the increased density of the cold gas, the gas at ambient temperature is lighter than air. Gas pipelines distribute large amounts of natural gas, of which methane is the principal component.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Methane
- Wikipedia's article - Methane
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