Methane

Return

Methane

Click and drag to move the molecule

Retour

CH₄

Methane

Physical Properties

Under solid (grey), liquid (blue) and vapor states (white) along the equilibrium curves

General properties
Solid phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

(P)

log(P)

Download

Molecular weight

16.043
g/mol
Content in dry air

1.84
ppm
1.84 ppm 1.84E-4 vol% 1.84E-6 vol/vol

Critical Point

Temperature

- 82.59
°C
- 116.662 °F 190.56 K
Pressure

45.99
bar
4.599E6 pa 667.0283 lbf/in2 45.3886 Atm 4599 Kpa 3.4495E4 mmHg
Density

162.7
kg/m³
10.157 lb/ft³

Triple Point

Temperature

- 182.46
°C
- 296.428 °F 90.69 K
Pressure

1.1696E-1
bar
1.1696E4 pa 1.6964 lbf/in2 1.1543E-1 Atm 11.696 Kpa 87.7275 mmHg

Pressure 1.013 bar

Melting point

- 182.46
°C
- 296.428 °F 90.69 K
Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)

58.682
kJ/kg
25.2457 Btu/lb 14.0253 kcal/kg
Solid density

/

Pressure 1.013 bar

Liquid density (at boiling point)

422.36
kg/m³
26.367 lb/ft³
Boiling point

- 161.48
°C
- 258.664 °F 111.67 K
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)

510.83
kJ/kg
219.7648 Btu/lb 122.0913 kcal/kg

Pressure1.013barTemperature

Compressibility factor Z

9.9761E-1

9.9802E-1

9.9825E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ

1.3164

1.3104

1.3062
Dynamic viscosity

1.0245E-4
Po
10.245 µPa.s 1.0245E-5 PA.S 6.8843E-6 lb/ft/s

1.0741E-4
Po
10.741 µPa.s 1.0741E-5 PA.S 7.2176E-6 lb/ft/s

1.1067E-4
Po
11.067 µPa.s 1.1067E-5 PA.S 7.4367E-6 lb/ft/s
Gas density at boiling point

1.816
kg/m³
1.1337E-1 lb/ft³

1.816
kg/m³
1.1337E-1 lb/ft³

1.816
kg/m³
1.1337E-1 lb/ft³
Gas density

7.173E-1
kg/m³
4.4779E-2 lb/ft³

6.797E-1
kg/m³
4.2432E-2 lb/ft³

6.567E-1
kg/m³
4.0996E-2 lb/ft³
Heat capacity at constant pressure Cp

2.181
kJ/(kg.K)
5.2128E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 2181.014 J/kg∙K 5.2128E-1 kcal/kg∙K

2.2094
kJ/(kg.K)
5.2805E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 2209.375 J/kg∙K 5.2805E-1 kcal/kg∙K

2.2316
kJ/(kg.K)
5.3337E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 2231.628 J/kg∙K 5.3337E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Heat capacity at constant volume Cv

1.6567
kJ/(kg.K)
3.9596E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1656.7 J/kg∙K 3.9596E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.6864
kJ/(kg.K)
4.0306E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1686.405 J/kg∙K 4.0306E-1 kcal/kg∙K

1.7085
kJ/(kg.K)
4.0835E-1 BTU/lb∙°F 1708.533 J/kg∙K 4.0835E-1 kcal/kg∙K
Liquid (at boiling point)/gas equivalent

588.82
mol/mol

621.4
mol/mol

643.12
mol/mol
Solubility in water

/

3.122E-5
mol/mol

2.552E-5
mol/mol
Specific gravity

0.56

0.56

0.56
Specific volume

1.3942
m³/kg
22.3329 ft³/lb

1.4713
m³/kg
23.568 ft³/lb

1.5227
m³/kg
24.3913 ft³/lb
Thermal conductivity

30.57
mW/m∙K
1.7675E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 2.6303E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 7.3064E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 3.057E-2 W/(m∙K)

32.563
mW/m∙K
1.8827E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 2.8018E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 7.7827E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 3.2563E-2 W/(m∙K)

33.931
mW/m∙K
1.9618E-2 Btu/ft/h/°F 2.9195E-1 cal/hour∙cm∙°C 8.1097E-5 cal/s∙cm∙°C 3.3931E-2 W/(m∙K)
Vapor pressure

/

/

/

return

CH₄

Methane

Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate a liquid or gas volume or a mass

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

Gas Phase

in standard conditions (1,013 bar, 15°C)

m3(Volume)

kg(Mass)

Retour

CH₄

Methane

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Chemicals

The main current chemical usage of methane is the production of synthesis gas (Syngas), H2 and CO via Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) of natural gas. Synthesis gas is then converted into methanol, oxo-alcohols, ammonia and hydrocarbons. Methylhalogenides (e.g. methylchloride), HCN and acetylene are also produced from methane.

Chemicals

New energies

Methane is the main component of natural gas, a primary energy resource widely used in the energy sector for the production of heat and/or electricity. Natural gas as compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) are increasingly used as fuels for vehicles to reduce transport emissions and improve air quality.

New energies

Hospital care

Methane is a component of a gaseous mixture used for pulmonary function diagnosis test.

Hospital care

Laboratories & Research Centers

Methane is used in calibration gas mixtures for petrochemical industry, environmental emission monitoring, industrial hygiene monitors and trace impurity analyzers. In mixture with argon, methane is used in Geiger counter and in X-ray fluorescence detector as quentching gas. In mixture with other hydrocarbons, methane is used as reference point in calorimetric measurements of hydrocarbons or coal.

Laboratories & Research Centers

Metal

Methane can be used in blast furnace and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plants, as well as cooling agent for tuyeres.

Metal

Electronic components

Methane provides carbon source to silicon film to adjust the light absorption bandgap in silicon thin film photovoltaics.

Electronic components

Retour

CH₄

Methane

Safety & Compatibility

Information to safely use this molecule

Major hazards
Material compatibility

Safety

GHS02

Flammable
GHS04

Gas under pressure

Autoignition Temperature in Air at Patm and Flammability Limits in Air at Patm and 293.15 K (except if the temperature is indicated)

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  595
  °C
  1103 °F 868.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /
US (according to NFPA for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)
- Auto-ignition temperature
  
  537
  °C
  998.6 °F 810.15 K
- Flash point
  
  /
- Lower flammability limit
  
  /
- Upper flammability limit
  
  /

Odor

none

Metals

Aluminium

Satisfactory
Brass

Satisfactory
Monel

Satisfactory
Copper

Satisfactory
Ferritic Steel

Satisfactory
risk of corrosion with water
Stainless steel

Satisfactory
Zinc

Satisfactory
Titanium

No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride

Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride

Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene

Satisfactory
Polycarbonate

No data
Polyamide

Satisfactory
Polypropylene

Satisfactory

Elastomers

Buthyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber

Not recommended
significant swelling
Nitrile rubber NBR

Satisfactory
Chloroprene

Satisfactory
Silicone

Not recommended
Perfluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Fluoroelastomers

Satisfactory
Neoprene

Satisfactory
Polyurethane

Not recommended
significant swelling
Ethylene-Propylene

Not recommended
significant swelling

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory
Fluorocarbon based lubricant

Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

Retour

CH₄

Methane

Learn More

General information

More information

Methane was discovered between 1776 and 1778 by Alessandro Volta. It can be found in natural gas reservoirs below ground and oceans. When in the atmosphere, it contributes to the GreenHouse effect, i.e it retains heat on earth.