Methane — what is it?
Methane is a chemical substance that is nearly half as dense as air. The mass of 1 m³ of methane at 0°C and a pressure of 760 mmHg is 0.717 kg.
Its molecular formula, CH₄, indicates that a methane molecule consists of one carbon atom (C) and four hydrogen atoms (H).
Its autoignition temperature ranges from 648°C to 800°C.
The heat of combustion for one kilogram of methane is 50,000 kJ (11,953 kcal).
The heat of combustion for 1 m³ of methane is 36,000 kJ (8,555 kcal).
Combusting 1 m³ of methane requires 9.52 m³ of air. The boiling point of liquid methane is -161.3°C.
Methane can account for up to 97.9% of natural gas; in other words, natural gas consists primarily of methane.
