Chemical formula of methane

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Chemical formula of methane is CH4.

Physical Properties of Methane:

Properties Details
Boiling Point -161.5 °C
Chemical Formula CH₄
Color Colorless
Density 0.717 kg/m³
Melting Point -182.5 °C
Molecular Weight 16.04 g/mol
Odor Odorless (though methane can be detected by a distinct “rotten egg” odor when mixed with certain substances)
Solubility Insoluble in water
Specific Heat Capacity 2.20 kJ/kg·K
State at Room Temperature Gas
Thermal Conductivity 0.0314 W/m·K
Vapor Pressure 1170 kPa at 25 °C

Chemical Properties of Methane:

Properties Details
Combustion Reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water
Flammability Highly flammable gas; burns in the presence of oxygen
Halogenation Under specific conditions, can react with halogens (e.g., chlorine)
Methane as a Greenhouse Gas Considered a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to climate change
Methane Conversion Can undergo various conversion processes, such as steam reforming, methane-to-methanol, etc.
Methane Hydrates Forms solid methane hydrates under high pressure and low temperature
Oxidation Can be oxidized to carbon dioxide and water
Reactivity Relatively unreactive under normal conditions

Reaction of methane

Alkali Metal

Alkali Metal Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Lithium Forms lithium methyl, a salt ,hydrogen gas 2 Li + CH4 → Li2CH3 + H2
Sodium Forms sodium methyl ,hydrogen gas 2 Na + CH4 → Na2CH3 + H2
Potassium Forms potassium methyl, hydrogen gas, ,potassium oxide 2 K + CH4 → K2CH3 + H2 + K2O
Rubidium Forms rubidium methyl ,hydrogen gas 2 Rb + CH4 → Rb2CH3 + H2
Cesium Forms cesium methyl ,hydrogen gas 2 Cs + CH4 → Cs2CH3 + H2

 

Alkaline Earth Metal

Alkaline Earth Metal Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Magnesium Forms magnesium methyl ,hydrogen gas Mg + CH4 → MgCH3 + H2
Calcium Forms calcium methyl, hydrogen gas, ,calcium oxide Ca + 2 CH4 → Ca(CH3)2 + 2 H2 + CaO
Strontium Forms strontium methyl ,hydrogen gas Sr + 2 CH4 → Sr(CH3)2 + 2 H2
Barium Forms barium methyl, hydrogen gas, ,barium oxide Ba + 2 CH4 → Ba(CH3)2 + 2 H2 + BaO
Radium Forms radium methyl ,hydrogen gas Ra + 2 CH4 → Ra(CH3)2 + 2 H2

Transition Metal

 

Transition Metal Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Iron Forms iron carbide (Fe3C), also known as cementite 3 Fe + 2 CH4 → Fe3C + 6 H2
Nickel Forms nickel carbonyl (Ni(CO)4) Ni + 4 CO + CH4 → Ni(CO)4 + 2 H2
Cobalt Forms cobalt carbonyl (Co2(CO)8) Co + 4 CO + 2 CH4 → Co2(CO)8 + 3 H2
Platinum Forms platinum black, a finely divided platinum powder 2 Pt + 3 CH4 → Pt3CH + 3 H2
Palladium Forms palladium black, a finely divided palladium powder 2 Pd + 3 CH4 → Pd3CH + 3 H2
Copper Forms copper ,hydrogen gas Cu + 2 CH4 → CuCH3 + H2
Silver Forms silver ,hydrogen gas 2 Ag + CH4 → 2 AgCH3 + H2
Gold Forms gold ,hydrogen gas 2 Au + 3 CH4 → 2 AuCH3 + H2
Non-Transition Metal Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Aluminum Forms aluminum oxide (Al2O3) ,hydrogen gas 2 Al + 3 CH4
→ Al2O3 + 6 H2
Boron Forms boron nitride (BN) ,hydrogen gas 4 B + NH3 + 3 CH4 → BN + 12 H2
Carbon Forms carbon black ,hydrogen gas C + CH4 → 2H2 + C(s)
Silicon Forms silicon carbide (SiC) ,hydrogen gas Si + CH4 → SiC + 2 H2
Germanium Forms germanium ,hydrogen gas Ge + 2 CH4 → GeH4 + 2 H2
Tin Forms tin(IV) hydride (SnH4) ,hydrogen gas Sn + 2 CH4 → SnH4 + 2 H2
Lead Forms lead(IV) hydride (PbH4) ,hydrogen gas Pb + 2 CH4 → PbH4 + 2 H2
Nitrogen Forms hydrogen cyanide (HCN) ,ammonia (NH3) CH4 + N2 → HCN + 3 H2
Oxygen Forms carbon dioxide (CO2) ,water (H2O) CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O
Fluorine Forms fluoromethane (CH3F) ,hydrogen fluoride (HF) CH4 + 2 F2 → CH3F + 2 HF
Chlorine Forms chloromethane (CH3Cl) ,hydrogen chloride (HCl) CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl
Bromine Forms bromomethane (CH3Br) ,hydrogen bromide (HBr) CH4 + Br2 → CH3Br + HBr
Iodine Forms iodomethane (CH3I) ,hydrogen iodide (HI) CH4 + I2 → CH3I + HI

 

Non-Metal

Non-Metal Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Hydrogen Forms hydrogen gas ,traces of carbon dioxide CH4 + 2 H2 → 4 H2 + CO2
Chlorine Forms methyl chloride (CH3Cl), hydrogen chloride (HCl), ,dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) CH4 + Cl2 → CH3Cl + HCl + CH2Cl2
Fluorine Forms fluoromethane (CH3F) ,hydrogen fluoride (HF) CH4 + 2 F2 → CH3F + 2 HF
Oxygen Forms formaldehyde (CH2O) ,water (H2O) CH4 + O2 → CH2O + 2 H2O
Sulfur Forms hydrogen sulfide (H2S) ,carbon disulfide (CS2) CH4 + 2 S → H2S + CS2
Nitrogen Forms hydrogen cyanide (HCN) ,ammonia (NH3) CH4 + N2 → HCN + 3 H2
Phosphorus Forms phosphine (PH3) ,traces of methane (CH4) CH4 + P4 → 4 PH3 + traces of CH4
Carbon Forms acetylene (C2H2) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + C → C2H2 + 2 H2
Silicon Forms silicon carbide (SiC) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + Si → SiC + 2 H2
Boron Forms boron nitride (BN) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + 2 BN → B2N4 + 4 H2
Selenium Forms dimethyl selenide (DMSe) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + Se → DMSe + 2 H2
Tellurium Forms dimethyl telluride (DMTe) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + Te → DMTe + 2 H2

Noble Gas

 

Noble Gas Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Xenon Forms xenon difluoride (XeF2) ,tetrafluoromethane (CF4) CH4 + 2 XeF2 → CF4 + Xe + 2 XeF4

 

Lanthanide

 

Lanthanide Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Cerium Forms cerium oxide (CeO2) ,water (H2O) 2 CH4 + 3 CeO2 → 2 CO2 + 3 Ce2O3 + 4 H2O
Samarium Forms samarium oxide (Sm2O3) ,water (H2O) CH4 + 2 Sm2O3 → CO2 + 4 SmO + 3 H2O
Europium Forms europium carbide (EuC2) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + Eu → EuC2 + 2 H2

 

Actinide

 

Actinide Reaction with Methane Chemical Equation
Uranium Forms uranium carbide (UC) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + 2 U → UC2 + 2 H2
Plutonium Forms plutonium carbide (PuC) ,hydrogen gas 2 CH4 + 3 Pu → 2 PuC + 4 H2 + CO
Americium Forms americium carbide (AmC) ,hydrogen gas CH4 + Am → AmC + 2 H2

 

 

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