Methane

The smallest alkane, with four equivalent carbon–hydrogen bonds.

Formula
CH4
Functional group
Alkanes
Molar mass
16.043 g/mol
Also known as
Marsh gas, Methyl hydride, Fire Damp, Biogas, R 50 (refrigerant), metano

Overview

The smallest alkane, with four equivalent carbon–hydrogen bonds.

Its tetrahedral carbon has no carbon–carbon bond or functional group. Complete combustion gives carbon dioxide and water. Radical chlorination can replace successive hydrogens, so a reaction mixture need not contain only chloromethane.

Identifiers

Formula
CH4
Functional group
Alkanes
Molar mass
16.043 g/mol
Also known as
Marsh gas, Methyl hydride, Fire Damp, Biogas, R 50 (refrigerant), metano
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
C
InChI
InChI=1S/CH4/h1H4
PubChem CID
297

Properties

Melting Point
-182.566 °C
Boiling Point
-161.50 °C
Water solubility
In water, 22 mg/L at 25 °C
Data availability

Not published: Density.

Related compounds

  • Alkanes

    The smallest alkane, with four equivalent carbon–hydrogen bonds.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Methane (CID 297)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Alkanes and alkane isomersJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.

  3. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Properties of alkanesJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.

  4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methane — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/297#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-344

  5. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methane — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/297#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Haynes, W.M. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. 94th Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton: FL 2013-2014, p. 3-344

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methane — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/297#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Yalkowsky, S.H., He, Yan, Jain, P. Handbook of Aqueous Solubility Data Second Edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 2010, p. 8