Methane

<< Foundational concepts | Ethane >>

Methane, CH₄ is the simplest organic molecule. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and is a carbon atom with four hydrogen atoms bonded to it in a tetrahedral shape.

This is a flattened, two-dimensional representation of methane that you will see commonly. The true three-dimensional form of methane does not have any 90 degree angles between bonded hydrogens. The bonds point to the four corners of a tetrahedron, forming cos⁻¹(−1/3) ≈ 109.5 degree bond angles.

3D rendering of methane, a regular tetrahedral shape.

<< Foundational concepts | << Alkanes | Methane | Ethane >> | Introduction to reactions >>