Meth"ane (?), n. [See Methal.]
(Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. See Marsh gas, under Gas.
Methane
series (Chem.), a
series of saturated hydrocarbons, of which methane is the first
member and type, and (because of their general chemical inertness and indifference) called also the paraffin (little affinity) series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane; intermediate
members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in benzine, kerosene, etc.);
while the highest members are white, waxy, or fatty solids, as paraffin proper.
Hear it pronounced