laboratory preparation of methane
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Methane is the first member of the homologous series of alkanes.
Its molecular weight is 16
Natural gas is one of the most useful, clean and safe energy sources. It is made up of many gases of which methane is the most prominent.
Methane is also called as marsh gas. Because methane is formed by the decomposition of animals and plants in the swampy areas. Methane gas is also found in coal mines, gobar gas, bio gas and coal gas.
Preparation of methane:
In the laboratory methane is formed by heating sodium ethanoate with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide, called soda lime.
On heating in the presence of a catalyst, calcium oxide, the -COONa group from sodium ethanoate is replaced by the hydrogen atom from sodium hydroxide, forming methane and sodium hydroxide gets converted into sodium carbonate.
Ex: preparation of propane from sodium butanoate.
CH3COONa + NaOH → CH4 + Na2CO3
Physical properties of methane:
It is a colorless, odourless gas.
Methane gas is lighter than water.
It is insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents like ether, alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
Methane gas is also exhibits the green house effect.
Chemical properties of methane:
Combustion: On combustion methane form carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat.
CH4 +2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + Heat
Reactivity: Generally saturated compounds undergo substitution reactions. Methane is a saturated hydrocarbon in which carbon atom is bonded to the 4 hydrogen atoms with single bonds. Therefore methane does not undergo addition reaction.
Substitution reaction: A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms replaces another atom or group of atoms is called substitution reaction.
Example: Chlorination of methane in presence of sunlight gives a mixture of products like methyl chloride,
methylene chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.

Methane on strong heating at about 1000oC in the absence of air forms carbon black which is a pure form of carbon.
CH4 → C + 2H2
Uses of methane:
Methane is used as domestic fuel.
It is used in rubber industry.
It is used in the preparation of organic compounds like chloroform, methanol, formaldehyde, methyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
Its molecular weight is 16
Natural gas is one of the most useful, clean and safe energy sources. It is made up of many gases of which methane is the most prominent.
Methane is also called as marsh gas. Because methane is formed by the decomposition of animals and plants in the swampy areas. Methane gas is also found in coal mines, gobar gas, bio gas and coal gas.
Preparation of methane:
In the laboratory methane is formed by heating sodium ethanoate with a mixture of sodium hydroxide and calcium oxide, called soda lime.
On heating in the presence of a catalyst, calcium oxide, the -COONa group from sodium ethanoate is replaced by the hydrogen atom from sodium hydroxide, forming methane and sodium hydroxide gets converted into sodium carbonate.
Ex: preparation of propane from sodium butanoate.
CH3COONa + NaOH → CH4 + Na2CO3
Physical properties of methane:
It is a colorless, odourless gas.
Methane gas is lighter than water.
It is insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents like ether, alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
Methane gas is also exhibits the green house effect.
Chemical properties of methane:
Combustion: On combustion methane form carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat.
CH4 +2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O + Heat
Reactivity: Generally saturated compounds undergo substitution reactions. Methane is a saturated hydrocarbon in which carbon atom is bonded to the 4 hydrogen atoms with single bonds. Therefore methane does not undergo addition reaction.
Substitution reaction: A reaction in which an atom or group of atoms replaces another atom or group of atoms is called substitution reaction.
Example: Chlorination of methane in presence of sunlight gives a mixture of products like methyl chloride,
methylene chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride.

Methane on strong heating at about 1000oC in the absence of air forms carbon black which is a pure form of carbon.
CH4 → C + 2H2
Uses of methane:
Methane is used as domestic fuel.
It is used in rubber industry.
It is used in the preparation of organic compounds like chloroform, methanol, formaldehyde, methyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride, etc.
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Methane, CH4, colorless, odorless, gaseous saturated hydrocarbon; the simplest alkaline. It is less dense than air, melts at - 184°C, and boils at - 161.4°C. It is combustible and can form explosive mixtures with air. Methane occurs naturally as the principal component of natural gas;Methane can be prepared in the laboratory by heating sodium acetate with sodium hydroxide, by the reaction of aluminum carbide with water, by the direct combination of carbon and hydrogen, or by the destructive distillation of coal or wood. As natural gas, methane is widely used for fuel. It is also used for carbonizing steel. It is unaffected by many common chemical reagents but reacts violently with chlorine or fluorine in the presence of light ,it is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. Hope this could be useful !!
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