Chapter 20, Problem 29PS

In methane hydrate the methane molecule is trapped in a cage of water molecules. Describe the structure: (a) how many water molecules make up the cage, (b) how many hydrogen bonds are involved, and (c) how many faces does the cage have? (Figure 20 16.)

(a) Methane hydrate burns as methane gas escapes from the solid hydrate.

(b) Methane hydrate consists of a lattice of water molecules with methane molecules trapped in the cavity.