International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

Which of these is the correct name for CH₄?

1. Propane

2. Pentane

3. Ethane

4. Methane

The correct answer is: Methane

The compound with the chemical formula CH₄ is commonly known as methane. Methane is the simplest alkane, consisting of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. This structure gives it the formula \( C_1H_4 \). In the context of organic chemistry, alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons where the carbon atoms are connected by single bonds. Methane serves as the foundational structure for larger alkanes, each subsequent alkane having additional carbon atoms and corresponding hydrogen atoms. For instance, ethane, propane, and pentane have two, three, and five carbon atoms respectively, which significantly differentiates them from methane. Recognizing the names of these alkanes is essential as it helps in understanding the relationships between different hydrocarbons based on their structural formulas and molecular formulas. Methane, with its single carbon atom, is often used as a reference point for naming other alkanes.