Final answer:
To separate methane from a mixture of gases, fractional distillation is commonly used, taking advantage of the difference in boiling points. Methane, having a low boiling point, is vaporized, condensed, and collected separately from other gases. Chemical methods like steam reforming can also target specific components in a mixture.
Step-by-step explanation:
To separate methane from a mixture of gases, one effective method is fractional distillation. This physical method of separation leverages the differences in boiling points of the components in the gas mixture. During fractional distillation, the mixture is heated, causing components with lower boiling points to vaporize first. These vapors are then condensed back into a liquid state and collected separately. Methane (CH4), with a boiling point of -161.5 ºC, can be separated from other gases that have higher boiling points. Similarly, chemical methods of separation include reactions that specifically target certain components of a mixture, such as the steam reforming of methane to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO).
In industrial settings, separation processes like fractional distillation are used to separate hydrocarbon mixtures obtained from crude oil, as well as to separate components of air. For example, the separation of oxygen from other components of air involves cooling and compressing the air until it liquefies, then utilizing the difference in boiling points to obtain pure oxygen.