A principle component of [natural gas]?, methane is a 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.