methane

Methane

-Methane is a colorless, odorless gas with a wide distribution in nature -At room temperature, methane is a gas less dense than air -It is often found in conjunction with petroleum deposits -The principal use of methane is as a fuel

-The energy released by the combustion of methane, in the form of natural gas, is used directly to heat homes and commercial buildings. It is also used in the generation of electric power. During the past decade natural gas accounted for about 1/5 of the total energy consumption worldwide, and about 1/3 in the United States