Question

Chemical Formula of Methane?

Answer 1

Answer: CH₄

Explanation:

Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon and belongs to the alkane family of organic compounds. Its chemical formula CH₄ tells us that each methane molecule consists of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. This formula represents the actual number and types of atoms present in a single molecule of methane.

The structure of methane follows the principle of carbon's tetravalency, meaning carbon can form four covalent bonds. In methane, the carbon atom shares its four valence electrons with four hydrogen atoms, creating four single covalent bonds. This gives methane a tetrahedral geometry, where the hydrogen atoms are positioned at the corners of a tetrahedron with the carbon atom at the center.

Methane is commonly found in nature as the main component of natural gas, making up about 70-90% of it. It's also produced through biological processes like decomposition of organic matter in swamps, rice fields, and the digestive systems of ruminant animals. As a greenhouse gas, methane is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide, though it has a shorter atmospheric lifetime.

Understanding methane's chemical formula is fundamental in organic chemistry as it serves as the starting point for studying more complex hydrocarbons. The CH₄ formula also helps us understand its molecular mass (16 g/mol), its combustion reactions, and its physical properties like being a colorless, odorless gas at room temperature.