<p>Often for molecules to form in interstellar space, dust is used as a catalyst. The reason is that in typical interstellar environments, densities are so immensely low that even for just two atoms to meet, the probability is so small that formation time scales are very long. For 3+ atoms, the chance decreases rapidly. Instead, an atom can stick to a dust grain and wait for ages until other atoms stick. The atoms slowly "crawl" around on the surface of the dust grain, eventually meet and make bonds. If the formation of a bond releases energy (is exothermic), the molecule can be ejected from the grain surface. This process is call <em>adsorption</em>.</p>

<p>The dust also helps shielding the molecules from stellar radiation which would otherwise easily destroy them. This is why molecular clouds are also very dusty. But actually UV irradiation helps with the formation of very complex molecules by ionizing less complex molecules that subsequently can make bonds with other atoms and molecules.</p>

<p>If the environments are extremely dense, as when a star dies and ejects its gas either as a supernova or a planetary nebula, molecules can also form. This is probably also how the dust itself is formed, although it might also be formed later on (this is currently debated; the problem is that supernovae are so powerful that their shock waves tend to destroy dust shortly after it forms, and planetary nebulae are created from stars that live so long that they can't explain the abundance of dust in the very early Universe where they wouldn't have had the time to live their lives).</p>

<p>As Stan Liou and LocalFluff says, methane is actually an "easy" molecule to form, both because it's rather simple, and because its constituents, hydrogen and carbon, are the most and the fourth most abundant elements in the interstellar medium, respectively.</p>

<p>In fact, far more complex molecules are regularly found in interstellar space, as can be seen on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_interstellar_and_circumstellar_molecules#Ten_or_more_atoms_.2815.29" rel="nofollow">this list</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T09:44:19.903Z
2015-03-11T20:32:25.890Z
2015-03-11T20:32:25.890Z
pela
<p>In school I learned that methane is organic matter and that it is a possible product of crude oil refinement. However, recently I read that Uranus has huge methane storms and the Saturn moon Titan even has lakes consisting only of methane or ethane. </p>

<p>Now, I'm wondering, how does all that methane get out there? </p>

<p>Is it the result of organic processes or is it created in the cores of suns like other elements? Do we even know?</p>

<p>Methane is also a pretty complex material. Do we know sources of more complex molecules other than methane in such quantities? Except life on earth? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T02:21:53.567Z
I'm unclear of what specifically you're asking, because methane is one of the simplest molecules around. Since carbon is one of the most common elements in the universe (either by mass or by number), while hydrogen is number one, it's not too surprising that a lot of $\mathrm{CH}_4$ is around. Just like there's a lot of oxygen around, so $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ is common, too...
Stan Liou
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-11T05:37:00.340Z
*"Now, I'm wondering, how does all that methane get out there?"* This is a fun question, how does it get out there?: Drill baby drill, I suppose! Hydrogen is the most common element in the world. Carbon is the third most common. It is not very unusual that they join to form methane, lying around having nothing better to do.
LocalFluff
<abiogenesis><astrochemistry>
Why is there so much methane in space?
Gerome Bochmann
# Why is there so much methane in space?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-11)

In school I learned that methane is organic matter and that it is a possible product of crude oil refinement. However, recently I read that Uranus has huge methane storms and the Saturn moon Titan even has lakes consisting only of methane or ethane.

Now, I'm wondering, how does all that methane get out there?

Is it the result of organic processes or is it created in the cores of suns like other elements? Do we even know?

Methane is also a pretty complex material. Do we know sources of more complex molecules other than methane in such quantities? Except life on earth?

**Tags:** abiogenesis, astrochemistry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm unclear of what specifically you're asking, because methane is one of the simplest molecules around. Since carbon is one of the most common elements in the universe (either by mass or by number), while hydrogen is number one, it's not too surprising that a lot of $\mathrm{CH}_4$ is around. Just like there's a lot of oxygen around, so $\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ is common, too...  
> **username_2**: *"Now, I'm wondering, how does all that methane get out there?"* This is a fun question, how does it get out there?: Drill baby drill, I suppose! Hydrogen is the most common element in the world. Carbon is the third most common. It is not very unusual that they join to form methane, lying around having nothing better to do.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-03-11. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Often for molecules to form in interstellar space, dust is used as a catalyst. The reason is that in typical interstellar environments, densities are so immensely low that even for just two atoms to meet, the probability is so small that formation time scales are very long. For 3+ atoms, the chance decreases rapidly. Instead, an atom can stick to a dust grain and wait for ages until other atoms stick. The atoms slowly "crawl" around on the surface of the dust grain, eventually meet and make bonds. If the formation of a bond releases energy (is exothermic), the molecule can be ejected from the grain surface. This process is call *adsorption*.

The dust also helps shielding the molecules from stellar radiation which would otherwise easily destroy them. This is why molecular clouds are also very dusty. But actually UV irradiation helps with the formation of very complex molecules by ionizing less complex molecules that subsequently can make bonds with other atoms and molecules.

If the environments are extremely dense, as when a star dies and ejects its gas either as a supernova or a planetary nebula, molecules can also form. This is probably also how the dust itself is formed, although it might also be formed later on (this is currently debated; the problem is that supernovae are so powerful that their shock waves tend to destroy dust shortly after it forms, and planetary nebulae are created from stars that live so long that they can't explain the abundance of dust in the very early Universe where they wouldn't have had the time to live their lives).

As username_1 and username_2 says, methane is actually an "easy" molecule to form, both because it's rather simple, and because its constituents, hydrogen and carbon, are the most and the fourth most abundant elements in the interstellar medium, respectively.

In fact, far more complex molecules are regularly found in interstellar space, as can be seen on [this list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_interstellar_and_circumstellar_molecules#Ten_or_more_atoms_.2815.29).


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