Methane is a colorless and odorless gas. It is found in large amounts in wells and mines in Texas, California, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, in the United States, and usually occurs with petroleum deposits all over the world. It is used as a major part of cooking and heating gas. Methane is often called marsh gas.
Methane is an organic compound containing carbon and hydrogen. Its chemical formula is CHU. It is the simplest and the first in a series of compounds called hydrocarbons. This series is continued by the addition of one carbon and two hydrogen atoms. (—CH2), and a new compound is formed with each such addition. Propane (C3H8) is one of the methane series.
The gas used in homes for cooking and heating is about 85% methane. Methane is normally nonpoisonous, but in the absence of oxygen a person inhaling methane can become asphyxiated. It can also form explosive mixtures with air if the mixture is made up of about one volume of methane to ten volumes of air.
Methane can be prepared in the laboratory; however, most methane is obtained commercially from natural gas. It is slightly soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol, ether, and other organic solvents.
