Final answer:
The chemical formula for methane is CH4, which consists of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon in the alkane series, following the general formula CnH2n+2 for alkanes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula for the compound methane is CH4. Methane is the simplest alkane and a major component of natural gas. It consists of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. This is reflected in its molecular formula, CH4, which indicates that a methane molecule contains one carbon (C) and four hydrogen (H) atoms. The alkanes, including methane, ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8), are a series of hydrocarbons that follow the general formula CnH2n+2, where n represents the number of carbon atoms.
In chemical reactions, methane can combust with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water, represented by the balanced equation CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O. Additionally, methane can react with elemental chlorine to produce carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and hydrogen chloride (HCl), following the balanced equation CH4(g) + 4Cl2(g) → CCl4(l) + 4HCl(l).