Methane
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Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is the simplest alkane and the main component of natural gas.
Methane is also partly responsible for climate change, as it is a very potent greenhouse gas.
Contents
Properties
Chemical
Methane will burn in air to produce carbon dioxide and water vapor. It is very slightly basic.
Physical
Methane is a gas at standard conditions, lighter than air. It is colorless, odorless (the smell of flatulence comes from impurities in the source that give a warning of a leak), insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents. Methane has a melting point of -182.5 °C and a boiling point of −161 °C.
Availability
Methane is sold in compressed gas cylinders, mixed with small amounts of tert-butylthiol, which gives it the characteristic "gas" smell. (Methane itself has no smell.) The thiol can be removed by bubbling the gas through a scrubber. This experiment should only be performed in a well ventilated area, as pure methane is odorless and in case of a leak it may become an explosive hazard.
Natural gas can also serve as methane substitute in reactions that do not require high reagent grades. Important: most household gas cylinders are not natural gas but rather propane, butane or a mix of both.
Preparation
Methane can be prepared by heating a mixture of sodium acetate and sodium hydroxide.
- CH3COONa + NaOH → CH4 + Na2CO3
Another way to prepare methane is via reduction of methanol with hydroiodic acid, in the presence of a platinum catalyst.[1]
Another simple way is to add water to aluminium carbide. Aluminium carbide can be produced by reducing alumina with carbon at high temperatures.
- Al4C3 + 12 H2O → 3 CH4 + 4 Al(OH)3
This reaction works better at high temperatures.
The best way to make methane is from the decomposition of organic matter, in a reactor called digester, which can be anything from a plastic barrel to corrosion resistant metal tanks. Inside the tank, organic matter or manure (herbivores only!) is mixed with water and let to decompose over a period of weeks to months. The resulting gas, called "biogas", is transfered in another container, usually filled with water, from where it's purified. Raw biogas generally contains 50-75% methane, 25-50% carbon dioxide, nitrogen (<10%), with the rest being hydrogen sulfide (~3%), water vapor (1%), hydrogen (~1%), oxygen (0.5%) and sometimes traces of siloxanes, phosphine or amines such as ammonia. The impurities are removed by scrubbing the biogas in either an alkaline solution or in special adsorbtion towers. The purified methane is dried and, since this process takes a long time, can be compressed in gas tanks. NEVER store compressed methane in oxygen cylinders!
Projects
- Methyl chloride synthesis
- Methanol synthesis
- Methane soap bubbles
Handling
Safety
Methane is not toxic, but it's extremely flammable and can form explosive mixtures with air, at concentrations between 4.4-17%. Methane is also an asphyxiant and may displace oxygen in an enclosed space. However, because it's lighter than air, it doesn't tend to accumulate.
Storage
Methane gas cylinders should be stored in cold places and away from any strong oxidizing or corrosive source. Valves should always be checked for leaks.
Disposal
Methane is a potent gas involved in global warming, so it's recommended to burn it when possible, instead of letting it rise in the atmosphere.
