Methane
The simplest hydrocarbon, methane is a gas with a formula of CH4.
A principle component of natural gas, methane is a smelly significant fuel. However, the strength of the carbon-hydrogen covalent bond in methane is among the strongest in all hydrocarbons, and thus limits its use as a chemical feedstock. The search for catalysts which can facilitate C-H bond activation in methane and other low alkanes is an area of research with significant industrial significance.
Methane is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 22.