Methane
CH₄
16.04 g·mol⁻¹○ Non‑polartetrahedral
Methane (CH₄) is the simplest alkane, a tetrahedral, non‑polar molecule with four equivalent C–H bonds at 109.5°.
Overview
Methane is a chemical compound with the formula CH₄. It is the simplest member of the alkane family and the primary component of natural gas. Its tetrahedral geometry (109.5° bond angles) perfectly satisfies the octet rule. Despite each C–H bond having a slight polarity, the symmetric tetrahedral shape renders the molecule overall non‑polar. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and is used widely as a fuel.
Properties
| IUPAC Name | Methane |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | CH₄ |
| Molar Mass | 16.043 g·mol⁻¹ |
| Molecular Geometry | tetrahedral |
| Bond Angle | 109.5° |
| Polarity | Non‑polar |
| Category | Organic |
Geometry
tetrahedral: Tetrahedral — 109.5° bond angles, four atoms at the corners of a tetrahedron.