Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
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.
Related terms
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.