What is Methylene?
Methylene is a diatomic radicle forming ethers analogous to those of ethylene. The chemical formula of methylene is CH2.
Methylene is fluid-like chloroform in appearance and odour, but differing in its boiling point and its specific gravity. Methylene was used as the name for methanol, which is wood alcohol, CH3OH, in the early 19th century. Methylene comes from methe + hyde, the latter being the Greek word for wood, so methylene would mean wine from wood.
Other names – Dihydridocarbon, Carbene, Methylene, Methylene radical
Table of Contents
- Properties of Methylene
- Methylene Structure
- Physical Properties of Methylene
- Chemical Properties of Methylene
- Uses of Methylene
- Frequently Asked Questions
Properties of Methylene
| CH2 | Methylene |
| Density | 0.98 g/mL at 25 °C |
| Molecular Weight/ Molar Mass | 14.0266 g mol−1 |
| Boiling Point | 39.75 oC at 760 mm Hg |
| Chemical Formula | CH2 |
Methylene Structure – CH2
Methylene Structure – CH2
Physical Properties of Methylene – CH2
| Odour | No odour |
| Appearance | Colourless gas |
| Covalently-Bonded Unit | 1 |
| Molar entropy | 193.93 J K−1 mol−1 |
| Heavy Atom Count | 1 |
| Solubility | Soluble in water |
Chemical Properties of Methylene – CH2
-
- Methylene reacts with atmospheric hydrogen to form saturated hydrocarbon methane. The chemical equation is given below.
CH2 + H2 → CH4
-
- Methylene readily undergoes oxidation resulting in the formation of water and carbon monoxide. The chemical equation is given below.
Uses of Methylene – CH2
- Methylene as methylene chloride is the active ingredient in many paint removers, including commercial and furniture strippers and home paint removers.
- Methylene as methylene blue is used for a number of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in human and veterinary medicine.
- Methylene has been used as an electroactive probe for cyclic voltammetric detection of chemical DNA.
- Also used in the treatment of drug-induced and some forms of genetic methemoglobinemia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is methylene an alkene?
As with alkanes, alkenes form a homologous sequence of molecules that increase molecular weight by adding units of methylene (–CH2–). If the double bond is at the end of a molecule it is called a terminal alkene.
What is methylene hydrogen?
In organic chemistry, a methylene group is any portion of a molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms linked to a carbon atom, which is bound by two single bonds to the rest of the molecule.
What is an active methylene group, give an example.
The group of active methylene is the group that has two -I or -R groups on either side. Therefore the hydrogen in this group -CH2 is highly acidic. For example, taking acetylacetone into consideration.
What is a methylene proton?
The methyl protons are bound to a carbon, which has three additional hydrogen bonds bound to hydrogen. The protons of methylene are bound to a carbon which is bound to one other carbon and fluorine. 2 NMR Spectrum Non-equivalent proton groups=2 signals.
What is the difference between methyl and methylene?
The key difference between the methyl and methylene groups is that the methyl group contains one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms whereas the methylene group contains one carbon atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms.
Comments