Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Can sublimation occur in CH4?

ALTV02 - 15-6-2016 at 17:55

As we should or all know, CH4 is the chemical name for methane gas. Since BBC science posted an article on CO2 being solidified, my questions are:

a) Can CH4 be solidified, and
b) What wouuld the solid form look like?

Thank you.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36494501

DraconicAcid - 15-6-2016 at 17:58

Yes, it can be solidified, at extremely low temperatures. It would probably look like frost or wax.

Ozone - 15-6-2016 at 18:29

That article is talking about fixing CO2 as limestone.

Aside, the most common form of "solid" methane are the methane clathrates:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane_clathrate

While they can be isolated and handled, they are unstable at STP and "sublime" if you will--that is the clathrates (hydrates) are more like melting ice and releasing the caged methane. Unless you are talking about the water-part, it's not a true phase transition.

Cool, though.

O3

PHILOU Zrealone - 16-6-2016 at 10:21

Methane hydrates are also a solid form of Methane that forms onto the sea bottom and that looks like ice but that burns once set in flame in the open air.