MethaneMethane Methane is a part of the Methane is a part of the

hydrocarbon family.hydrocarbon family. Cyclic compound:Cyclic compound: The carbon atoms form The carbon atoms form

one or more closed one or more closed rings. rings.

Subdivided according to Subdivided according to chemical behavior into chemical behavior into saturated and saturated and unsaturated compounds unsaturated compounds

Common Name: Common Name: Methane Methane

Chemical Formula:Chemical Formula: CHCH44

80% Hydrogen80% Hydrogen20% Carbon20% Carbon

1:4 ratio1:4 ratio 4 Hydrogen to 1 4 Hydrogen to 1

CarbonCarbon Highly AbundantHighly Abundant

Tetrahedral shape. Tetrahedral shape. Carbon atom sits at Carbon atom sits at

the centerthe center

Four hydrogen atoms Four hydrogen atoms at the points of the at the points of the tetrahedron. tetrahedron.

Molecular Weight:Molecular Weight: 16.04 16.04 Boiling Point:Boiling Point: -161.4 -161.4 °°CC Critical Temperature:Critical Temperature: -82.4 -82.4 °°CC Critical Pressure:Critical Pressure: 45.8 Atm. 45.8 Atm. Gas Density:Gas Density: 0.554 (Air = 1) 0.554 (Air = 1) Melting Point:Melting Point: -182.5° C (-296.5 °F) -182.5° C (-296.5 °F) Boiling Point:Boiling Point: -161.5° C (-258.7 °F). -161.5° C (-258.7 °F). Colorless, Odorless, lightest, and Flammable gasColorless, Odorless, lightest, and Flammable gas Blue Flame Blue Flame

[CH[CH44 + 2O + 2O22 -> CO -> CO22 + + 2H2H22O]O]

Insoluble in waterInsoluble in water Autoignition Temperature Autoignition Temperature

1,004 1,004 °F°F Flammability limits,

volume 5.3 - 15% Hydrates store immense Hydrates store immense

amounts of methane amounts of methane Stored and extracted Stored and extracted

from icefrom ice

Discoverer: UnknownDiscoverer: Unknown Date Discovered: UnknownDate Discovered: Unknown Registrar: UnknownRegistrar: Unknown Swamp gas "will-o-the -wisp" and "jack-o'-the-lantern"Swamp gas "will-o-the -wisp" and "jack-o'-the-lantern" are some of the nicknames. are some of the nicknames. Like milk, it’s just always been there.Like milk, it’s just always been there. Yes, its methane you smell when you fartYes, its methane you smell when you fart

Procured from Procured from decomposition of wastedecomposition of waste

Mined out of iceMined out of ice 10 million tons of 10 million tons of

frozen methane in the frozen methane in the EarthEarth

More than double the More than double the amount of coal, oil and amount of coal, oil and natural gas reserves natural gas reserves combined combined

Can be used as an alternate fuel supplyCan be used as an alternate fuel supply Used in some Bunsen burnersUsed in some Bunsen burners Clean water producerClean water producer Ammonia supplyAmmonia supply

Used to produce AmmoniaUsed to produce Ammonia Ammonia used as a cleanerAmmonia used as a cleaner Made from distilled camel dungMade from distilled camel dung Ammonia melts at -77.7° C (-107.9 °F), boils at -33.35° C (-Ammonia melts at -77.7° C (-107.9 °F), boils at -33.35° C (-

28.03 °F), and has a density of 0.68 at its boiling point and 1 28.03 °F), and has a density of 0.68 at its boiling point and 1 atmosphere (1,013 millibars) of pressure atmosphere (1,013 millibars) of pressure

Clean BurningClean Burning LimitlessLimitless RenewableRenewable Cheap miningCheap mining RenewableRenewable

Insulates the Insulates the atmosphereatmosphere

One of the leading One of the leading cause of global cause of global warmingwarming

Average surface Average surface temperature of Earth: temperature of Earth: 15 °C (59 °F)15 °C (59 °F)

Current Temp: +1.4 to Current Temp: +1.4 to 5.8 °C (2.5 to 10.4 °F)5.8 °C (2.5 to 10.4 °F)Yearly RiseYearly Rise

1)1) Methane.ComMethane.ComPage of the United States Environmental Page of the United States Environmental Protection Agency dedicated to Protection Agency dedicated to http://www.methane.com/http://www.methane.com/

2)2) Properties of FuelsProperties of FuelsA comparative table with all the physical and A comparative table with all the physical and characteristics of fuels. The page comes the characteristics of fuels. The page comes the National Biofuels Program of the United States National Biofuels Program of the United States Department of Energy.Department of Energy.http://www.physics.orst.edu/ph313/c/doc/fuels/http://www.physics.orst.edu/ph313/c/doc/fuels/general.properties.of.fuels.pdfgeneral.properties.of.fuels.pdf