What is the chemical formula for methane?

The chemical formula for methane is CH4. This formula indicates that each molecule of methane consists of one carbon atom (C) bonded to four hydrogen atoms (H). Methane is the simplest alkane and is primarily used as a fuel and as a feedstock in the chemical industry. Its tetrahedral molecular geometry, resulting from the four hydrogen atoms arranged around the central carbon, is characteristic of methane and contributes to its properties as a gas at room temperature.

In contrast, the other formulas represent different compounds: C2H6, known as ethane, has two carbon atoms and is part of the alkane series but is not the structure of methane; CO2 is carbon dioxide, a different type of molecule entirely consisting of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms; and C3H8, which is propane, also belongs to the alkane series but contains three carbon atoms. These distinctions highlight the unique nature of methane as a distinct chemical entity with its specific formula, CH4.