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Methane - , Properties of Methane, Uses, Questions

What is Methane?

  • Methane is a simplest of the saturated hydrocarbons with a chemical formula . It consists of four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom and is the simplest alkane.
  • When natural methane reaches the surface of the atmosphere is called atmospheric methane and can be found under the seafloor as well as below the ground.
  • It is odourless or has a sweet oil type smell and has no colour. It is a flammable non-toxic gas. It is a tetrahedral molecule which has four equivalent C-H bonds. It is produced by colonic anaerobes. Alessandro Volta an Italian physicist was the first to scientifically identify methane in the year 1776.

Properties of Methane –

  • Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gasses and approximately 70% of methane emissions are linked to human activities.
  • Pure methane is an energy-rich feed stock with an energy density of 55.7 MJ/kg and is used to generate electricity, for domestic heating and cooking
Properties of Methane
Methane
Molecular Weight/Molar Mass16.04 g/mol
Density0.656 kg/
Boiling Pointβˆ’ 161.50 Β°C
Melting Pointβˆ’ 182.5 Β°C
Illustration: Properties of Methane –

Uses (Methane)

  • It is used in automobiles, ovens and water heater as a fuel
  • It is used in the generation of electricity
  • It is used as rocket fuel in its refined liquid form
  • It is used as an antifreeze ingredient in industries
  • It is a common ingredient in fertilizer
  • It is used to sanitize products
  • It is used in gas-fired power stations
  • It is used in gas cookers
  • It is used in the testing of gas appliances

Questions

Is Methane Gas Harmful to Humans?

Answer:

  • Methane alone is non-toxic but can become deadly when mixed with other gases. Methane displaces oxygen to induce asphyxiation.
  • It can cause dizziness and headache symptoms, but these frequently go unnoticed until the brain signals the body gasping for air.

What is the Main Cause of Methane Gas?

Answer:

Methane is released during coal, natural gas, and oil production and transportation. Methane emissions are also caused by livestock and other farming activities and the degradation of agricultural waste in urban solid waste landfills.

Why is Methane Gas Bad for the Environment?

Answer:

  • For example, if methane spills into the air before being used from a leaky pipe – it absorbs the heat from the sun, warming up the atmosphere.
  • It՚s called a greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide, for this reason.

Is Methane a Fossil Fuel?

Answer:

  • Fossil fuels range from volatile materials with low carbon-to-hydrogen ratios (like methane) , to liquids (like petroleum) , to almost pure carbon-composed non-volatile materials, such as anthracite coal.
  • Methane can be found either alone, in combination with oil, or in the form of methane clathrates in hydrocarbon fields.

Can Methane be Extracted from the Atmosphere?

Answer:

  • The bacteria can then be used to extract methane from the air because of its intense effectiveness as a greenhouse gas.
  • Elimination of methane may be financially competitive with carbon capture, despite expensive technologies.