What is the chemical formula of methane?

Options

A. `CH_(2)`
B. `CH_(4)`
C. `C_(2)H_(4)`
D. `C_(2)H_(8)`

Answer

To find the chemical formula of methane, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Structure of Methane
Methane is a simple hydrocarbon that consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

### Step 2: Write the Chemical Formula
The chemical formula is written by placing the symbol for carbon (C) first, followed by the symbol for hydrogen (H). Since there is one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms in methane, the formula is written as:

\[ \text{CH}_4 \]

### Step 3: Confirm the Options
If provided with options, we can compare the derived formula (CH₄) with the given options to identify the correct one.

### Conclusion
The chemical formula of methane is:

\[ \text{CH}_4 \]

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