Methane is flammable. Which of the following describes this property?

Methane is flammable. Which of the following describes this property?

• A. Non-flammable
• B. Flammable
• C. Inert
• D. Liquid

Answer: (B)

Flammability is about whether a substance can catch fire and burn in air. Methane is a hydrocarbon gas at room temperature and readily forms a combustible mixture with air. When there’s an ignition source and the gas concentration is within the flammable range, methane will ignite and burn, releasing heat and light. That’s why the property described is flammable. Non-flammable would mean it cannot ignite, which isn’t true for methane. Inert would mean it doesn’t react with oxygen, which it does during burning. Liquid would describe a state of matter, not its tendency to burn.

Flammability is about whether a substance can catch fire and burn in air. Methane is a hydrocarbon gas at room temperature and readily forms a combustible mixture with air. When there’s an ignition source and the gas concentration is within the flammable range, methane will ignite and burn, releasing heat and light. That’s why the property described is flammable.

Non-flammable would mean it cannot ignite, which isn’t true for methane. Inert would mean it doesn’t react with oxygen, which it does during burning. Liquid would describe a state of matter, not its tendency to burn.