Methane is the main component of natural gas (typically 87% methane in natural gas). Therefore, it is usually produced by purifying natural gas.
Pure methane can also be obtained from the cracking of petroleum distillates.
Methane is the main component of natural gas and is commonly used in domestic and industrial gas. It is a high-quality gas fuel, with colorless and odorless characteristics, at room temperature and pressure for the gas state. The combustion reaction of methane is one of its most common applications, burning with a light blue flame and releasing a large amount of heat, making it a highly efficient energy source.
In addition, methane can also be used to produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon black, acetylene, formaldehyde, hydrocyanic acid and other chemical products. These products are widely used in industrial production, such as hydrogen for fuel cells and chemical synthesis, and carbon black for the manufacture of rubber, paints and pigments.
Chemically, methane is a structurally stable compound that does not normally react with strong acids, bases and oxidants. However, methane can undergo substitution reactions under certain conditions, reacting with chlorine gas to form a series of chlorinated hydrocarbons and hydrogen chloride gases.