What is methane?

What is the impact of methane?

Methane is a gas that has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms in each molecule. Its chemical formula is CH4. Methane is a greenhouse gas, which means it makes the Earth warmer by trapping heat in the air. Methane comes from natural sources, such as wetlands and volcanoes, and human sources, such as cows and landfills. Methane can also be used as a fuel for cooking, heating, and making electricity. However, burning methane produces carbon dioxide, which is another greenhouse gas.

This image shows a molecular model of a methane molecule, which consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms bonded together. The carbon atom is black, the hydrogen atoms are white.

Sources and uses

Methane is a gas that comes from cows, waste, and fossil fuels. Methane is bad for the climate because it traps heat in the air. We need to make less methane to slow down global warming.

Some farmers use methane from animal waste as a fuel for cooking and heating. They can also send it to other houses through gas pipes. Some people use methane from waste to make electricity. They heat water with methane and use the steam to turn turbines. This way, they use less fossil fuels, which are bad for the environment. You can learn more about methane and its uses from this website.

Summary:

Methane is a gas with one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms in each molecule.
Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the air. It comes from cows and waste sites.
Methane from farms and waste sites can be burned as a fuel for cooking, heating, and making electricity.