Is methane a greenhouse gas?
AnswerYes
Methane traps heat in the atmosphere.
Science · Facts & stats
Methane facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about methane, its chemistry and its role in climate, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
How do cows release most of their methane?
AnswerBy burping
Microbes in cow stomachs make methane that is mostly burped out.
Going deeper
What produces methane in wetlands and rice paddies?
AnswerMicrobes
Methane-making microbes thrive in oxygen-poor mud.
What shape is a methane molecule?
AnswerTetrahedral
The four hydrogens point to the corners of a tetrahedron.
Methane is the simplest member of which hydrocarbon family?
AnswerAlkanes
Alkanes have only single bonds.
Expert level
Over 20 years, methane traps roughly how much more heat than carbon dioxide, ton for ton?
AnswerAbout 80 times
Methane is far more potent than CO2 over short time frames.
What is the H-C-H bond angle in methane?
AnswerAbout 109.5 degrees
This is the tetrahedral bond angle.
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