Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CH4. It is the simplest alkane, the main component of natural gas, and probably[citation needed] the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel. However, because it is a gas at normal conditions, methane is difficult to transport from its source.Methane is important for electrical generation by burning it as a fuel in a gas turbine or steam boiler. Compared to other hydrocarbon fuels, burning methane produces less carbon dioxide for each unit of heat released. Methane is also subjected to free-radical chlorination in the production of chloromethanes, although methanol is a more typical precursor.
