Key points
Methane is a One of the three states of matter. Gases, like oxygen or helium, do not have a fixed shape and can expand to fill their container.. One Two or more atoms which are strongly bonded together. The smallest particle of a substance that has all of the physical and chemical properties of that substance. of methane contains one carbon atom, surrounded by four hydrogen atoms.
Methane is a Gases such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, and methane in the Earth鈥檚 atmosphere that trap heat., and is produced by cows and landfill (waste) sites.
Methane from farms and landfill can be used as a A substance which is burned to release energy. for cooking and heating, and to generate electricity.
How is methane used?
A case study video explaining how methane can be produced and used.
What is the impact of methane?
Methane is a A pure substance made from two or more elements which are chemically bonded in a fixed ratio. containing two A pure substance which is made from only one type of atom. Elements are listed on the periodic table., carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). It exists naturally as a molecule.
Each methane molecule has a central carbon atom joined to and surrounded by four hydrogen atoms. The chemical formula of methane is 颁贬鈧.
Sources
Cows and other farm animals produce methane, and so does landfill waste. Methane also escapes into the air when coal, oil and natural gas are extracted from the Earth.
Human activities put more and more methane into the air every year. This is not good news for climate change: methane is a greenhouse gas, so we need to put less of it into the air to slow down The rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface..
Uses
Some farmers collect methane gas from animal waste. The methane can be pumped into the mains gas system, where it goes to houses for cooking and heating.
Some methane from animal and landfill waste is used to heat water to make steam; this steam drives Revolving machine with blades that are turned by wind, water or steam. Turbines in a power station turn the generators. to generate electricity. If we keep using waste to generate electricity, we will be able to use fewer A fuel which was made millions of years ago from the remains of dead plants or animals. Examples include coal, natural gas and the fuels which we get from crude oil (eg petrol and diesel)., which are bad for the environment.
Play the Atomic Labs game! game
Try out practical experiments in this KS3 science game.
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