Methane(CH4) Properties(25 Facts You Should Know)

Methane is a fuel that is economically appealing due to its relative abundance on Earth. Let us examine some methane observations.

Methane does absorb visible light because of overtone bands, especially at the red end of the spectrum, but the effect is only noticeable if the light path is very long. The blue color of Uranus and Neptune is caused by light passing through their methane-filled atmospheres and then being scattered back into space.

More information about methane will be covered below, including its IUPAC name, color, molecular mass, oxidation state, density, and reaction with metals in this article.

Methane IUPAC Name

The IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) name of methane is Methane.

Methane Chemical Formula

The chemical formula of methane is CH4. It contains one carbon attached to four hydrogens.

Methane CAS Number

The CAS Number (A compound’s identification number that can be used to distinguish a chemical from its name) of methane is 74-82-8.

Methane ChemSpider ID

The ChemSpider ID of methane is 291.

Methane Chemical Classification

Methane is the simplest alkane chemically classified, having one carbon and four hydrogens. It is a group-14 hydride and is what makes up most natural gas.

Methane Molar Mass

A 16g/mol molar mass characterizes methane (the mass of one mole of a substance. (12X1 + 1X4).

Methane Colour

Methane is a colourless gas.

Methane Viscosity

The viscosity of methane is 953 mPa (273K).

Methane Molar Density

The molar density of methane is 41.0 mol/m3 .

Methane Melting Point

The Melting point of methane is 90.55K.

Methane Boiling Point

The Boiling point of methane is 111.51K.

Methane State at room temperature

Methane is a gas at room temperature but if temp. is decreased it becomes solid.

Methane Covalent bond

Methane usually forms covalent bond mainly because of the reason that when one non-metal combines with another non-metal, it forms a covalent bond.

image 19
Bonding in methane

Methane Covalent Radius

A covalent radius can only be calculated for a single atom so it cannot be ascertained for a molecule.

Methane Electronic Configuration

The distribution of electrons in an atom’s orbitals is depicted by electronic configurations. Let us go into detail about methane’s electronic configuration.

The electronic configuration of carbon (6) is 1s2 2s2 2p2 . Also, for hydrogen(1) it is 1s1.Typically, the central metal atom of a molecule—in this case, carbon—depicts the electronic configuration of that molecule.

Methane Oxidation State

The oxidation state of carbon is +4 and that of hydrogen is +1. In the oxidation state in this case there is carbon and hydrogen.

Methane Acidity/Basicity

Like all other hydrocarbons, methane is an extremely weak acid with pKa value of 56. However, it can donate a proton due to which it can also act as a Lewis base.

Methane Odourless

Methane is an odourless gas.

Methane Paramagnetic

Metals that have a weak magnetic attraction are known as paramagnetic materials. Let us go into detail about paramagnetism of methane.

Methane has a diamagnetic property. This can be explained by two factors: first, it has no dipole moment; second, it is diamagnetic because it has no unpaired electrons in the valence shell. Hence, it is not paramagnetic in nature.

Methane Hydrates

Methane and water react at high pressure and low temperature, forming methane gas hydrates as a result. Methane is kept out of the atmosphere by methane hydrates that are actively forming in the shallow crust.

Methane Crystal Structure

Methane has a cubic crystal structure and tetrahedral shape with a bond angle of 109.5. It has 58 molecules in the unit cell. The length of the cube is 11.91 A.

Methane Polarity and Conductivity

  • Since there is no net dipole moment within the molecule so, methane is a non-polar molecule.
  • Covalent bonds within the methane molecule prevent it from dissolving into ions, making it a very poor conductor of electricity.

Methane Reaction with Acid

When methane reacts with an acid, it generally produces a number of products along with water. Like in this case when methane reacts with Concentrated nitric acid it produces nitromethane along with water.

Picture6

Methane Reaction with Base

When methane reacts with base no reaction occurs .

Methane Reaction with Oxide

When methane reacts with oxygen it is called combustion of methane. Chemically, this reaction takes place when methane is reacted with oxygen and products being carbon dioxide and water along with an enormous amount of energy.

Picture5

Methane Reaction with Metal

Only at extremely high temperatures and in the presence of a metal-based catalyst does this reaction take place (such as nickel).

Picture 1 1

CONCLUSION

Methane weighs less than air. The flame is extremely hot, pale, and hardly luminous. It easily burns through air, producing carbon dioxide and water vapor. Methane, in addition to a few organic chemicals, is a significant source of hydrogen.