Inverted Methane
Inverted Methane
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Methane, the simplest hydrocarbon, is a colorless, odorless, and flammable gas widely distributed in nature. It is the main component of natural gas, which contains about 70–90% CH4, and it is found in large clathrate deposits underneath ocean floors. It is also formed on a regular basis by methanogenic bacteria present in wetlands and the guts of humans and ruminants. In addition to being the final product in the decay of organic matter, methane is a well-known greenhouse gas and thus plays a key role in the global carbon cycle.
The main use of methane is as a fuel, either for electricity generation in power plants or for domestic heating and cooking. In the chemical industry, methane is an essential feedstock in the production of the so-called synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) by steam reforming of natural gas. In turn, synthesis gas is the critical intermediate in the preparation of pure hydrogen, used in a huge industrial scale in the synthesis of ammonia via the Haber-Bosch process, and also in the production of methanol, which can be converted to acetic acid, formaldehyde, and many other important organic chemicals.
The stamp shown in this note was issued by Monaco in 1986 to recognize its fledgling plastics industry, a puzzling choice since the economy of the wealthy principality relies primarily on tourism and banking. More questionable is the stamp designer’s choice of methane as a direct source of gasoline for automobiles, as the illustration seems to suggest, although compressed (or liquefied) natural gas is a relatively common transportation fuel in countries such as Argentina and Brazil. Perhaps most aggravating to chemists is that the structural formula of methane is given as C4H: definitely an item for chemical philately’s “Hall of Shame”! Interestingly, the linear butadiynyl radical does exist and has been unequivocally identified by spectroscopic methods in interstellar space, but that’s not exactly what I would call a readily available alternative source of energy . . .
Written by Daniel Rabinovich <drabinov@uncc.edu>.
Page last modified 6 January 2009.
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- The IUPAC International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
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- Inverted Methane
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- Future Energy–Improved, Sustainable, and Clean Options for Our Planet
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- Macromolecular Symposia–recent volumes
- Chemical Education
- Physical Organic Chemistry
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- Aromatic Compounds and π-Systems
- NICE ’09
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Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- From the Editor
- Contents
- Toward the Next Renaissance of Chemical Science in the 21st Century
- Periodic Tables and IUPAC
- The IUPAC International Chemical Identifier (InChI)
- Celebrating Worldwide Excellence in Chemistry
- Nanotechnology in Good Health?
- Inverted Methane
- Yuan Tseh Lee to Be President of the International Council for Science
- Leading Scientific Organization Affirms Freedom, Responsibility, and the Universality of Science
- Remembering Dana Knox
- Chemical Heritage Foundation Fellowships
- The Royal Society of Chemistry and ChemSpider to Develop InChI Resolver
- IUPAC Executive Director–Expression of Interest
- Glossary of Terms Related to Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Mechanisms of Polymerization (IUPAC Recommendations 2008)
- Protocols on Safety, Efficacy, Standardization, and Documentation of Herbal Medicine (IUPAC Technical Report)
- Solubility Data Series Volume 85: Transition and 12–14 Main Group Metals, Lanthanide, Actinide, and Ammonium Halates
- Solubility Data Series Volume 86: Ethers and Ketones with Water
- Future Energy–Improved, Sustainable, and Clean Options for Our Planet
- Biophysical Chemistry of Fractal Structures and Processes in Environmental Systems
- Macromolecular Symposia–recent volumes
- Chemical Education
- Physical Organic Chemistry
- Molecular Order and Mobility in Polymer Systems
- Trace Elements in Food
- Chemical Thermodynamics
- Aromatic Compounds and π-Systems
- NICE ’09
- Other Conferences of Note
- Mark Your Calendar
