Methane Hydrates in the Deep Sea

6th – 8th grade (Chemistry)

A methane hydrate is a type of clathrate, a chemical substance in which the molecules of one material (water, in this case) form an open lattice/cage that encloses molecules of another material (methane, in this case) without actually forming chemical bonds between the two materials. In this lesson, students will construct a methane gas hydrate model, describe the molecules and bonds that form a methane hydrate, and explain how methane hydrate forms in the deep sea.