Methane

• Formula: CH₄
• Molecular weight: 16.0425
• IUPAC Standard InChI: InChI=1S/CH4/h1H4 Copy

  
• IUPAC Standard InChIKey: VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copy
• CAS Registry Number: 74-82-8
• Chemical structure:
  This structure is also available as a 2d Mol file or as a computed 3d SD file
  The 3d structure may be viewed using Java or Javascript.
• Other names: Marsh gas; Methyl hydride; CH4; Fire Damp; R 50; Biogas; R 50 (refrigerant)
• Permanent link for this species. Use this link for bookmarking this species for future reference.
• Information on this page:
  • Phase change data
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Reaction thermochemistry data: reactions 1 to 50, reactions 51 to 100, reactions 101 to 112
  • Henry's Law data
  • Ion clustering data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • Vibrational and/or electronic energy levels
  • Fluid Properties
• Data at other public NIST sites:
  • Microwave spectra (on physics lab web site)
  • Electron-Impact Ionization Cross Sections (on physics web site)
  • Gas Phase Kinetics Database
• Options:
  • Switch to calorie-based units

Data at NIST subscription sites:

• NIST / TRC Web Thermo Tables, "lite" edition (thermophysical and thermochemical data)
• NIST / TRC Web Thermo Tables, professional edition (thermophysical and thermochemical data)

NIST subscription sites provide data under the NIST Standard Reference Data Program, but require an annual fee to access. The purpose of the fee is to recover costs associated with the development of data collections included in such sites. Your institution may already be a subscriber. Follow the links above to find out more about the data in these sites and their terms of usage.

Phase change data

Go To: Top, Gas phase ion energetics data, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
TRC - Thermodynamics Research Center, NIST Boulder Laboratories, Chris Muzny director
DH - Eugene S. Domalski and Elizabeth D. Hearing
AC - William E. Acree, Jr., James S. Chickos

Enthalpy of vaporization

Enthalpy of vaporization

Δ_vapH = A exp(-αT_r) (1 − T_r)^β
    Δ_vapH = Enthalpy of vaporization (at saturation pressure) (kJ/mol)
    T_r = reduced temperature (T / T_c)

View plot Requires a JavaScript / HTML 5 canvas capable browser.

Entropy of vaporization

Antoine Equation Parameters

log₁₀(P) = A − (B / (T + C))
    P = vapor pressure (bar)
    T = temperature (K)

View plot Requires a JavaScript / HTML 5 canvas capable browser.

Enthalpy of sublimation

Enthalpy of phase transition

Entropy of phase transition

Gas phase ion energetics data

Go To: Top, Phase change data, References, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Data evaluated as indicated in comments:
HL - Edward P. Hunter and Sharon G. Lias
L - Sharon G. Lias

Data compiled as indicated in comments:
B - John E. Bartmess
LBLHLM - Sharon G. Lias, John E. Bartmess, Joel F. Liebman, John L. Holmes, Rhoda D. Levin, and W. Gary Mallard
LLK - Sharon G. Lias, Rhoda D. Levin, and Sherif A. Kafafi
RDSH - Henry M. Rosenstock, Keith Draxl, Bruce W. Steiner, and John T. Herron

View reactions leading to CH₄⁺ (ion structure unspecified)

Ionization energy determinations

Appearance energy determinations

De-protonation reactions

CH₃^- +  =

By formula: CH₃^- + H⁺ = CH₄

References

Go To: Top, Phase change data, Gas phase ion energetics data, Notes

Data compilation copyright by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce on behalf of the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Streng, 1971
Streng, A.G., Miscibility and Compatibility of Some Liquid and Solidified Gases at Low Temperature, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 1971, 16, 357. [all data]

Van't Zelfde, Omar, et al., 1968
Van't Zelfde, P.; Omar, M.H.; LePair-Schroten, H.G.M.; Dokoupil, Z., Solid-liquid equilibrium diagram for the argon + methane system., Physica (Amsterdam), 1968, 38, 241-51. [all data]

Timmermans, 1935
Timmermans, J., Researches in Stoichiometry. I. The Heat of Fusion of Organic Compounds., Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg., 1935, 44, 17-40. [all data]

Clusius, 1929
Clusius, K., The specific heat of several condensed gases between 10deg. abs. and their triple point., Z. Phys. Chem., Abt. B, 1929, 3, 41. [all data]

Eucken and Karwat, 1924
Eucken, A.; Karwat, E., Determination of the heat content of several condensed gases, Z. Phys. Chem., Stoechiom. Verwandtschaftsl., 1924, 112, 467. [all data]

Ambrose and Tsonopoulos, 1995
Ambrose, D.; Tsonopoulos, C., Vapor-Liquid Critical Properties of Elements and Compounds. 2. Normal Alkenes, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 1995, 40, 531-546. [all data]

Younglove and Ely, 1987
Younglove, B.A.; Ely, J.F., Thermophysical Properties of Fluids II. Methane, Ethane, Propane, Isobutane, and Normal Butane, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1987, 16, 577. [all data]

Terry, Lynch, et al., 1969
Terry, M.J.; Lynch, J.T.; Bunclark, M.; Mansell, K.R.; Staveley, L.A.K., The Densities of Liquid Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide, Methane and Carbon Tetrafluoride Along the Orthobaric Liquid Curve, J. Chem. Thermodyn., 1969, 1, 413. [all data]

Vogt and Pitzer, 1976
Vogt, G.J.; Pitzer, K.S., Entropy and heat capacity of methane, spin-species conversion, J. Chem. Thermodynam., 1976, 8, 1011-1031. [all data]

Frank and Clusius, 1937
Frank, A.; Clusius, K., The entropy of methane, Z. Physik. Chem., 1937, B36, 291-300. [all data]

Stock, Henning, et al., 2006
Stock, Alfred; Henning, Fritz; Kuß, Ernst, Dampfdrucktafeln für Temperaturbestimmungen zwischen + 25° und - 185°, Ber. dtsch. Chem. Ges. A/B, 2006, 54, 5, 1119-1129, https://doi.org/10.1002/cber.19210540531 . [all data]

Boublik, Fried, et al., 1984
Boublik, T.; Fried, V.; Hala, E., The Vapour Pressures of Pure Substances: Selected Values of the Temperature Dependence of the Vapour Pressures of Some Pure Substances in the Normal and Low Pressure Region, 2nd ed., Elsevier, New York, 1984, 972. [all data]

Stephenson and Malanowski, 1987
Stephenson, Richard M.; Malanowski, Stanislaw, Handbook of the Thermodynamics of Organic Compounds, 1987, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3173-2 . [all data]

Majer and Svoboda, 1985
Majer, V.; Svoboda, V., Enthalpies of Vaporization of Organic Compounds: A Critical Review and Data Compilation, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1985, 300. [all data]

Ott, Goates, et al., 1972
Ott, J. Bevan; Goates, J. Rex; Lamb, John D., Solid-liquid phase equilibria in water + ethylene glycol, The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, 1972, 4, 1, 123-126, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9614(72)80015-6 . [all data]

Reid, 1972
Reid, Robert C., Handbook on vapor pressure and heats of vaporization of hydrocarbons and related compounds, R. C. Wilhort and B. J. Zwolinski, Texas A Research Foundation. College Station, Texas(1971). 329 pages.$10.00, AIChE J., 1972, 18, 6, 1278-1278, https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690180637 . [all data]

Ambrose, Counsell, et al., 1970
Ambrose, D.; Counsell, J.F.; Davenport, A.J., The use of Chebyshev polynomials for the representation of vapour pressures between the triple point and the critical point, The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, 1970, 2, 2, 283-294, https://doi.org/10.1016/0021-9614(70)90093-5 . [all data]

Hestermans and White, 1961
Hestermans, P.; White, David, THE VAPOR PRESSURE, HEAT OF VAPORIZATION AND HEAT CAPACITY OF METHANE FROM THE BOILING POINT TO THE CRITICAL TEMPERATURE, J. Phys. Chem., 1961, 65, 2, 362-365, https://doi.org/10.1021/j100820a044 . [all data]

Frank and Clusius, 1939
Frank, A.; Clusius, K., Z. Phys. Chem. Abt. B, 1939, 42, 395. [all data]

Prydz and Goodwin, 1972
Prydz, R.; Goodwin, R.D., Experimental Melting and Vapor Pressures of Methane, J. Chem. Thermodyn., 1972, 4, 1, 127-133, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9614(72)80016-8 . [all data]

Regnier, 1972
Regnier, J., Tension de Vapeur de L'Ethane Entre 80 et 135 K, J. Chim. Phys., 1972, 69, 942-944. [all data]

Cutler and Morrison, 1965
Cutler, A.J.B.; Morrison, J.A., Excess Thermodynamic Functions for Liquid Mixtures of Methane+Propane, Trans. Faraday Soc., 1965, 61, 429-442, https://doi.org/10.1039/tf9656100429 . [all data]

Bondi, 1963
Bondi, A., Heat of Siblimation of Molecular Crystals: A Catalog of Molecular Structure Increments., J. Chem. Eng. Data, 1963, 8, 3, 371-381, https://doi.org/10.1021/je60018a027 . [all data]

Armstrong, Brickwedde, et al., 1955
Armstrong, George T.; Brickwedde, F.G.; Scott, R.B., Vapor pressures of the methanes, J. RES. NATL. BUR. STAN., 1955, 55, 1, 39, https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.055.005 . [all data]

Jones, 1960
Jones, A.H., Sublimation Pressure Data for Organic Compounds., J. Chem. Eng. Data, 1960, 5, 2, 196-200, https://doi.org/10.1021/je60006a019 . [all data]

Tickner and Lossing, 1951
Tickner, A.W.; Lossing, F.P., The Measurement of Low Vapor Pressures by Means of a Mass Spectrometer., J. Phys. Chem., 1951, 55, 5, 733-740, https://doi.org/10.1021/j150488a013 . [all data]

Stull, 1947
Stull, Daniel R., Vapor Pressure of Pure Substances. Organic and Inorganic Compounds, Ind. Eng. Chem., 1947, 39, 4, 517-540, https://doi.org/10.1021/ie50448a022 . [all data]

Hunter and Lias, 1998
Hunter, E.P.; Lias, S.G., Evaluated Gas Phase Basicities and Proton Affinities of Molecules: An Update, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1998, 27, 3, 413-656, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.556018 . [all data]

Berkowitz, Greene, et al., 1987
Berkowitz, J.; Greene, J.P.; Cho, H.; Ruscic, B., The ionization potentials of CH₄ and CD₄, J. Chem. Phys., 1987, 86, 674. [all data]

Chatham, Hils, et al., 1984
Chatham, H.; Hils, D.; Robertson, R.; Gallagher, A., Total and partial electron collisional ionization cross sections for CH₄, C₂H₆, SiH₄, and Si₂H₆, J. Chem. Phys., 1984, 81, 1770. [all data]

Plessis, Marmet, et al., 1983
Plessis, P.; Marmet, P.; Dutil, R., Ionization and appearance potentials of CH₄ by electron impact, J. Phys. B:, 1983, 16, 1283. [all data]

Kimura, Katsumata, et al., 1981
Kimura, K.; Katsumata, S.; Achiba, Y.; Yamazaki, T.; Iwata, S., Ionization energies, Ab initio assignments, and valence electronic structure for 200 molecules in Handbook of HeI Photoelectron Spectra of Fundamental Organic Compounds, Japan Scientific Soc. Press, Tokyo, 1981. [all data]

Bieri, Burger, et al., 1977
Bieri, G.; Burger, F.; Heilbronner, E.; Maier, J.P., Valence ionization enrgies of hydrocarbons, Helv. Chim. Acta, 1977, 60, 2213. [all data]

Selim and El-Kholy, 1975
Selim, E.T.M.; El-Kholy, S.B., Mass spectrometric ionization and dissociation of methane, Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys., 1975, 13, 233. [all data]

Debies and Rabalais, 1975
Debies, T.P.; Rabalais, J.W., Calculated photoionization cross-sections and angular distributions for the isoelectronic series Ne, HF, H₂O, NH₃, and CH₄, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1975, 97, 487. [all data]

Rabalais, Debies, et al., 1974
Rabalais, J.W.; Debies, T.P.; Berkosky, J.L.; Huang, J.-T.J.; Ellison, F.O., Calculated photoionization cross sections relative experimental photoionization intensities for a selection of small molecules, J. Chem. Phys., 1974, 61, 516. [all data]

Morrison and Traeger, 1973
Morrison, J.D.; Traeger, J.C., Ionization and dissociation by electron impact. III. CH₄ and SiH₄, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1973, 11, 289. [all data]

Potts and Price, 1972
Potts, A.W.; Price, W.C., The photoelectron spectra of methane, silane germane and stannane, Proc. R. Soc. London A:, 1972, 165. [all data]

Finney and Harrison, 1972
Finney, C.D.; Harrison, A.G., A third-derivative method for determining electron-impact onset potentials, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1972, 9, 221. [all data]

Bergmark, Rabalais, et al., 1972
Bergmark, T.; Rabalais, J.W.; Werme, L.O.; Karlsson, L.; Siegbahn, K., High-resolution electron spectra of methane, thiophene, 2-bromothiphene, and 3-bromothiophene in Electron Spectroscopy, ed. D.A. Shirley (North-Holland Pub. Co., Amsterdam), 1972. [all data]

Rabalais, Bergmark, et al., 1971
Rabalais, J.W.; Bergmark, T.; Werme, L.O.; Karlsson, L.; Siegbahn, K., The Jahn-Teller effect in the electron spectrum of methane, Phys. Scr., 1971, 3, 13. [all data]

Chupka and Berkowitz, 1971
Chupka, W.A.; Berkowitz, J., Photoionization of methane: ionization potential and proton affinity of CH₄, J. Chem. Phys., 1971, 54, 4256. [all data]

Pullen, Carlson, et al., 1970
Pullen, B.P.; Carlson, T.A.; Moddeman, W.E.; Schweitzer, G.K.; Bull, W.E., Photoelectron spectra of methane, silane, germane, methyl fluoride, difluoromethane, and trifluoromethane, J. Chem. Phys., 1970, 53, 768. [all data]

Brundle, Robin, et al., 1970
Brundle, C.R.; Robin, M.B.; Basch, H., Electronic energies and electronic structures of the fluoromethanes, J. Chem. Phys., 1970, 53, 2196. [all data]

Lossing and Semeluk, 1969
Lossing, F.P.; Semeluk, G.P., Threshold ionization efficiency curves for monoenergetic electron impact on H₂, D₂, CH₄ and CD₄, Intern. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1969, 2, 408. [all data]

Williams and Hamill, 1968
Williams, J.M.; Hamill, W.H., Ionization potentials of molecules and free radicals and appearance potentials by electron impact in the mass spectrometer, J. Chem. Phys., 1968, 49, 4467. [all data]

Villarejo, Stockbauer, et al., 1968
Villarejo, D.; Stockbauer, R.; Inghram, M.G., Measurement of threshold electrons in the photoionization of small molecules, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc., 1968, 13, 39. [all data]

Cermak, 1968
Cermak, V., Penning ionization electron spectroscopy. I. Determination of ionization potentials of polyatomic molecules, Collection Czech. Chem. Commun., 1968, 33, 2739. [all data]

Baker, Baker, et al., 1968
Baker, A.D.; Baker, C.; Brundle, C.R.; Turner, D.W., The electronic structures of methane, ethane, ethylene and formaldehyde studied by high-resolution molecular photoelectron spectroscopy, Intern. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Phys., 1968, 1, 285. [all data]

Brehm, 1966
Brehm, B., Massenspektrometrische Untersuchung der Photoionisation von Molekulen, Z. Naturforsch., 1966, 21a, 196. [all data]

Nicholson, 1965
Nicholson, A.J.C., Photoionization-efficiency curves. II. False and genuine structure, J. Chem. Phys., 1965, 43, 1171. [all data]

Dibeler, Krauss, et al., 1965
Dibeler, V.H.; Krauss, M.; Reese, R.M.; Harllee, F.N., Mass-spectrometric study of photoionization. III. Methane and methane-d₄, J. Chem. Phys., 1965, 42, 3791. [all data]

Melton and Hamill, 1964
Melton, C.E.; Hamill, W.H., Appearance potentials by the retarding potential-difference method for secondary ions produced by excited-neutral, excited ion-neutral, and ion-neutral reactions, J. Chem. Phys., 1964, 41, 1469. [all data]

Bieri and Asbrink, 1980
Bieri, G.; Asbrink, L., 30.4-nm He(II) photoelectron spectra of organic molecules, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1980, 20, 149. [all data]

Harshbarger, Robin, et al., 1973
Harshbarger, W.R.; Robin, M.B.; Lassettre, E.N., The electron impact spectra of the fluoromethanes, J. Electron Spectrosc. Relat. Phenom., 1973, 1, 319. [all data]

McCulloh and Dibeler, 1976
McCulloh, K.E.; Dibeler, V.H., Enthalpy of formation of methyl and methylene radicals of photoionization studies of methane and ketene, J. Chem. Phys., 1976, 64, 4445. [all data]

Chupka, 1968
Chupka, W.A., Mass-spectrometric study of the photoionization of methane, J. Chem. Phys., 1968, 48, 2337. [all data]

Stockbauer, 1977
Stockbauer, R., A threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence mass spectrometer for measureing ion kinetic energy release on fragmentation, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes, 1977, 25, 89. [all data]

Lossing and Semeluk, 1970
Lossing, F.P.; Semeluk, G.P., Free radicals by mass spectrometry. XLII.Ionization potentials and ionic heats of formation for C₁-C₄ alkyl radicals, Can. J. Chem., 1970, 48, 955. [all data]

Locht, Olivier, et al., 1979
Locht, R.; Olivier, J.L.; Momigny, J., Dissociative autoionization as a mechanism for the proton formation from methane and methane-d₄ by low energy electron impact, Chem. Phys., 1979, 43, 425. [all data]

Appell and Kubach, 1971
Appell, J.; Kubach, C., On the formation of energetic protons by electron impact on methane, Chem. Phys. Lett., 1971, 11, 486. [all data]

Ellison, Engelking, et al., 1978
Ellison, G.B.; Engelking, P.C.; Lineberger, W.C., An experimental determination of the geometry and electron affinity of CH₃, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1978, 100, 2556. [all data]

Graul and Squires, 1990
Graul, S.T.; Squires, R.R., Gas-Phase Acidities Derived from Threshold Energies for Activated Reactions, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1990, 112, 7, 2517, https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00163a007 . [all data]

Bohme, Lee-Ruff, et al., 1972
Bohme, D.K.; Lee-Ruff, E.; Young, L.B., Acidity order of selected bronsted acids in the gas phase at 300K, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1972, 94, 5153. [all data]

Check, Faust, et al., 2001
Check, C.E.; Faust, T.O.; Bailey, J.M.; Wright, B.J.; Gilbert, T.M.; Sunderlin, L.S., Addition of Polarization and Diffuse Functions to the LANL2DZ Basis Set for P-Block Elements, J. Phys. Chem. A,, 2001, 105, 34, 8111, https://doi.org/10.1021/jp011945l . [all data]

Notes

Go To: Top, Phase change data, Gas phase ion energetics data, References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  AE	Appearance energy
  IE (evaluated)	Recommended ionization energy
  Pc	Critical pressure
  Ptriple	Triple point pressure
  Tboil	Boiling point
  Tc	Critical temperature
  Tfus	Fusion (melting) point
  Ttriple	Triple point temperature
  Vc	Critical volume
  ΔHtrs	Enthalpy of phase transition
  ΔStrs	Entropy of phase transition
  ΔrG°	Free energy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔrH°	Enthalpy of reaction at standard conditions
  ΔsubH	Enthalpy of sublimation
  ΔvapH	Enthalpy of vaporization
  ΔvapS	Entropy of vaporization
  ρc	Critical density

• Data from NIST Standard Reference Database 69: NIST Chemistry WebBook
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uses its best efforts to deliver a high quality copy of the Database and to verify that the data contained therein have been selected on the basis of sound scientific judgment. However, NIST makes no warranties to that effect, and NIST shall not be liable for any damage that may result from errors or omissions in the Database.
• Customer support for NIST Standard Reference Data products.