methane
Simplest carbon fuel
Methane is a colorless, odorless gas—the simplest hydrocarbon, one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogens.
It's the main component of natural gas, used for heating and cooking.
Methane is also a potent greenhouse gas, released by landfills, livestock digestion, and wetlands.
Cows produce significant methane emissions.
Saturated hydrocarbon series
- hydrocarbonAll-carbon-and-hydrogen compound
- CH4Methane's molecular formula
- tetrahedralHaving four triangular sides
- covalentSharing electrons between atoms
saturated · molecular · ethane · propane · butane · pentane · homologous · organic
Subterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- LNGCooled gas for transport
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
- stoveKitchen heating appliance
furnace · heating · cooking · power plant · turbine · generator · compressed · liquefied
Grassy waterlogged lowland
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- bogAcidic peat wetland
- peatWaterlogged decomposed vegetation
- fenLow marshy ground
will-o'-the-wisp · bubbles · sediment · waterlogged · decay · organic matter · ebullition · flux
Third domain of life
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
- ruminantMulti-stomached grazing mammal
cattle · enteric · manure · decomposition · landfill · compost · sewage · wetlands
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
atmosphere · feedback loops · permafrost · thawing · ice melt · sea level rise · climate models · nitrous oxide
Having no smell
- colorlessDevoid of pigmentation
- invisibleCannot be seen
- odorantSubstance emitting scent
- detectorDevice that senses
sensor · leak · monitor · safety · alarm · sniffer · infrared · spectroscopy
Prone to ignition
- ignitionStarting combustion process
- flameBurning gas made visible
- burnDamage by heat
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
exothermic · heat · fire · spark · flashpoint · explosion · oxidation · calorific
alkane
Saturated hydrocarbon series
- hydrocarbonAll-carbon-and-hydrogen compound
- CH4Methane's molecular formula
- tetrahedralHaving four triangular sides
covalent · saturated · molecular · ethane · propane · butane · pentane · homologous · organic · carbon
natural gas
Subterranean hydrocarbon fuel
- biogasFuel from anaerobic decomposition
- LNGCooled gas for transport
- pipelineLong-distance fluid transport tube
stove · furnace · heating · cooking · power plant · turbine · generator · compressed · liquefied · distribution
marsh
Grassy waterlogged lowland
fen · will-o'-the-wisp · bubbles · sediment · waterlogged · decay · organic matter · ebullition · flux · tropical
archaea
Third domain of life
- anaerobicNot requiring oxygen
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
ruminant · cattle · enteric · manure · decomposition · landfill · compost · sewage · wetlands · rice paddies
greenhouse
Climate-controlled plant enclosure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
carbon dioxide · atmosphere · feedback loops · permafrost · thawing · ice melt · sea level rise · climate models · nitrous oxide · carbon cycle
odorless
Having no smell
detector · sensor · leak · monitor · safety · alarm · sniffer · infrared · spectroscopy · concentration
flammable
Prone to ignition
combustion · exothermic · heat · fire · spark · flashpoint · explosion · oxidation · calorific · thermal
fracking
Extracting gas via pressure
reservoir · coalbed · production · offshore · rig · flaring · venting · leakage · capture · pipeline
- Climate Changeglobal warming, greenhouse gases, climate change, carbon dioxide, CO2
- fossil fuelspetroleum, crude oil, natural gas, coal, anthracite
- petroleumcrude oil, crude, petroleum, oil wells, oil fields
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- organic compoundshydrocarbon, alcohol, alkane, ethane, propane
- Air Pollutantssmoke, smog, soot, exhaust, fumes
methanecarbon dioxide
Respiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
CO2 · water vapor · nitrous oxide · ozone · chlorofluorocarbons
methanesolar energy
Harnessed stellar radiation
wind power · renewable energy · hydroelectric power · geothermal energy · nuclear power
- coalbed methaneNatural gas from coal deposits
- methane leakEscaping CH4 emissions
- methane emissionsGreenhouse gas discharge
- methane productionCreating CH4 gas