Physical and Chemical Properties of Methane

We’re going to take a look at two of the chemical properties of methane and four of the uses of methane.

Chemical Properties of Methane

Combustion of Methane

Starting out with the chemical properties, we start out with combustion. Methane can produce a lot of heat. With methane, it’s going to burn air with a blue flame. Methane produces heat when it undergoes combustion. When you have a lot of heat, you can use it as fuel.

With reactivity, methane is pretty much unreactive.

What that means is that it’s not going to really react, except if it’s with fluorine, chlorine, etc. With those chemicals, it’s going to undergo substitution reactions.

Uses of Methane

Methane has four uses I want to go over.

1. Methane as a Cooking Gas

First is as a cooking gas. You can probably guess why it’s used as a cooking gas, because it has an excellent burning capability.

2. Production of Carbon Dioxide

The second use is to produce carbon dioxide in gas form.

3. Production of Carbon Black

The third use is to produce carbon black. Carbon black is used in rubber production.

4. Methane as a Starting Material

Finally, the fourth use is as a starting material for other organic compounds. It’s used as a starting material for these other organic compounds, such as methyl chloride, methylene dichloride, and chloroform.