Question:
Where can I get methane gas enough to fill up a small ball?
Sayc
2009-08-06 06:46:08 UTC
Or can you buy methane gas from a DIY shop of some sort? I need it for an experiment.
Six answers:
2009-08-06 06:55:53 UTC
Making something to blow up, huh?

No need to buy it, even if you could.

Methane is just natural gas (NOT butane or propane). Many people's homes already have it. But, it's under a little bit of pressure and, also, it's not supplied in a way that makes it easy to use other than in an appliance. It's very flammable and can be toxic and explosive. It's heavier than air in case you want to try to float something with it. That won't work. Also, since methane is odorless, the natural gas in homes has been treated with a sulfur compound to make it smell bad, so people can tell if they have a gas leak. So, it stinks. Just be careful.



**correction** I was mistaken and got a bit ahead of myself, haven't had the third cup of coffee yet; methane is lighter than air but, propane and butane aren't. It's still not a good idea to use it for flotation, though. It's flammable. And, from when I was a kid, I don't recall methane being an efficient LTA choice for small balloons made from heavier material. Might do better in mylar ones, though. Didn't have those when I was young.



**Just a thought** I don't know the nature of your experiment but, was just wondering if you've ever tried collecting methane off decaying plant/animal material? Might be fun and interesting. Can't hurt to go 'green' in your experiments.
2016-03-18 15:14:53 UTC
I'm sorry, but I don't really understand your question. But the truth is, global warming is a myth. The temperature of the atmosphere fluctuates over a wide range, the result of solar activity and other influences. During the past 3,000 years, there have been five extended periods when it was distinctly warmer than today. One of the two coldest periods, known as the Little Ice Age, occurred 300 years ago. Atmospheric temperatures have been rising from that low for the past 300 years, but remain below the 3,000-year average. The highest temperatures during the last 100 years occurred in 1940. During the past 20 years, atmospheric temperatures have actually tended to go down, based on very reliable satellite data, which have been confirmed by measurements from weather balloons. My question is, who is the poor shmuck who has the job of measuring cow farts?
GeorgeSiO2
2009-08-06 07:24:57 UTC
Hi sayc: I agree with Mickey except on one point. Natural gas (methane, CH4) is lighter than air:

defined as air at 20°C (293.15 K, 68°C ) and 1 atm

Air: 1.205 g L-1

Methane: 0.668 g L-1 [1]

This might be important if you want to use CH4 to float something.

Cheers, drp
2016-04-04 04:23:43 UTC
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Were ever you may be let your wind go free, If in church or chapel, just let it rattle, bottle it, sniff it, do as you like, you may even have enough to fly a kite.
Anonymous
2009-08-06 06:54:19 UTC
Only get some if you REALLY know what you're doing.



http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/Lookup.do?N5=All&N3=mode+matchpartialmax&N4=methane&D7=0&D10=methane&N25=0&N1=S_ID&ST=RS&F=PR



- Anonymous
2009-08-06 06:59:07 UTC
Put the ball at a cows ***! :-) LOL. At a mathane factory? Or a farm:-)


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