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)
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• Information on this page:
  • Gas phase thermochemistry data
  • Phase change data
  • IR Spectrum
  • Mass spectrum (electron ionization)
  • References
  • Notes
• Other data available:
  • Reaction thermochemistry data: reactions 1 to 50, reactions 51 to 100, reactions 101 to 112
  • Henry's Law data
  • Gas phase ion energetics data
  • Ion clustering data
  • 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
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Gas phase thermochemistry data

Go To: Top, Phase change data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), 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:
DRB - Donald R. Burgess, Jr.
ALS - Hussein Y. Afeefy, Joel F. Liebman, and Stephen E. Stein
GT - Glushko Thermocenter, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

Constant pressure heat capacity of gas

Constant pressure heat capacity of gas

Gas Phase Heat Capacity (Shomate Equation)

C_p° = A + B*t + C*t² + D*t³ + E/t²
H° − H°_298.15= A*t + B*t²/2 + C*t³/3 + D*t⁴/4 − E/t + F − H
S° = A*ln(t) + B*t + C*t²/2 + D*t³/3 − E/(2*t²) + G
    C_p = heat capacity (J/mol*K)
    H° = standard enthalpy (kJ/mol)
    S° = standard entropy (J/mol*K)
    t = temperature (K) / 1000.

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Phase change data

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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)

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Entropy of vaporization

Antoine Equation Parameters

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

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Enthalpy of sublimation

Enthalpy of phase transition

Entropy of phase transition

IR Spectrum

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), References, Notes

Data compiled by: Coblentz Society, Inc.

• GAS (150 mmHg DILUTED TO A TOTAL PRESSURE OF 600 mmHg WITH N2); DOW KBr FOREPRISM; DIGITIZED BY NIST FROM HARD COPY (FROM TWO SEGMENTS); 4 cm^-1 resolution

Data compiled by: NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center, William E. Wallace, director

• gas

Mass spectrum (electron ionization)

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

Data compiled by: NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center, William E. Wallace, director

Spectrum

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Additional Data

References

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), Notes

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

Chase, 1998
Chase, M.W., Jr., NIST-JANAF Themochemical Tables, Fourth Edition, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, Monograph 9, 1998, 1-1951. [all data]

Manion, 2002
Manion, J.A., Evaluated Enthalpies of Formation of the Stable Closed Shell C1 and C2 Chlorinated Hydrocarbons, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 2002, 31, 1, 123-172, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1420703 . [all data]

Gurvich, Veyts, et al., 1991
Thermodynamic Properties of Individual Substances, 4th edition, Volume 2, Gurvich, L.V.; Veyts, I.V.; Alcock, C.B.;, ed(s)., Hemisphere, New York, 1991. [all data]

Pittam and Pilcher, 1972
Pittam, D.A.; Pilcher, G., Measurements of heats of combustion by flame calorimetry. Part 8.-Methane, ethane, propane, n-butane and 2-methylpropane, J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 1, 1972, 68, 2224-2229. [all data]

Prosen and Rossini, 1945
Prosen, E.J.; Rossini, F.D., Heats of combustion and formation of the paraffin hydrocarbons at 25° C, J. Res. NBS, 1945, 263-267. [all data]

Roth and Banse, 1932
Roth, W.A.; Banse, H., Die verbrennungs- und bildungswarme von kohlenoxyd und methan, Arch. Eisenhutten., 1932, 6, 43-46. [all data]

Cox and Pilcher, 1970
Cox, J.D.; Pilcher, G., Thermochemistry of Organic and Organometallic Compounds, Academic Press, New York, 1970, 1-636. [all data]

Rossini, 1931
Rossini, F.D., The heats of combustion of methane and carbon monoxide, J. Res. NBS, 1931, 6, 37-49. [all data]

Colwell J.H., 1963
Colwell J.H., Thermodynamic properties of CH4 and CD4. Interpretation of the properties of solid, J. Chem. Phys., 1963, 39, 635-653. [all data]

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

Friend D.G., 1989
Friend D.G., Thermophysical properties of methane, J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data, 1989, 18, 583-638. [all data]

Gurvich, Veyts, et al., 1989
Gurvich, L.V.; Veyts, I.V.; Alcock, C.B., Thermodynamic Properties of Individual Substances, 4th ed.; Vols. 1 and 2, Hemisphere, New York, 1989. [all data]

Giauque W.F., 1931
Giauque W.F., The entropies of methane and ammonia, Phys. Rev., 1931, 38, 196-197. [all data]

East A.L.L., 1997
East A.L.L., Ab initio statistical thermodynamical models for the computation of third-law entropies, J. Chem. Phys., 1997, 106, 6655-6674. [all data]

Halford J.O., 1957
Halford J.O., Standard heat capacities of gaseous methanol, ethanol, methane and ethane at 279 K by thermal conductivity, J. Phys. Chem., 1957, 61, 1536-1539. [all data]

McDowell R.S., 1963
McDowell R.S., Thermodynamic functions of methane, J. Chem. Eng. Data, 1963, 8, 547-548. [all data]

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]

Notes

Go To: Top, Gas phase thermochemistry data, Phase change data, IR Spectrum, Mass spectrum (electron ionization), References

• Symbols used in this document:
  

  Cp,gas	Constant pressure heat capacity of gas
  Pc	Critical pressure
  Ptriple	Triple point pressure
  S°gas	Entropy of gas at standard conditions
  S°gas,1 bar	Entropy of gas at standard conditions (1 bar)
  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
  ΔcH°gas	Enthalpy of combustion of gas at standard conditions
  ΔfH°gas	Enthalpy of formation of gas 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
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