Chemicals and Drugs

Methane

The simplest saturated hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, flammable gas, slightly soluble in water. It is one of the chief constituents of natural gas and is formed in the decomposition of organic matter. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The simplest saturated hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, flammable gas, slightly soluble in water. It is one of the chief constituents of natural gas and is formed in the decomposition of organic matter. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
CH4
Molecular Weight
16.043 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
74-82-8
IUPAC Name
methane
InChIKey
VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C
MeSH Unique ID
D008697
Source
PubChem CID 297

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Narrower headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

26 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. D02w.455w.326.146w.571w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Methane. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008697. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008697
  2. Methane. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane
  3. Methane. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q37129
  4. Methane. In: PubChem Compound. CID 297. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/297