Methane is a colorless, odorless gas consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. It's the main component of natural gas and is also produced by organic decay processes.
Picture methane as a tiny kite flying through our atmosphere. The center part (the kite itself) represents the carbon atom, and the four strings attached to it represent the hydrogen atoms.
Hydrocarbon: Compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen.
Greenhouse Gas: A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, like methane.
Organic Compound: Any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.