Structural formulaNameFluoromethaneMethyl fluorideChloromethaneMethyl chlorideBromomethaneMethyl bromideIodomethaneMethyl iodideMelting point−137,8 °C−97,4 °C−93,7 °C−66 °CBoiling point−78,4 °C−23,8 °C4,0 °C42 °CSpace-filling model
The monohalomethanes are organic compounds in which a hydrogen atom in methane is replaced by a halogen. They belong to the haloalkanes or to the subgroup of halomethanes.
The four common members are fluoromethane, chloromethane, bromomethane and iodomethane.
Historical name for this group is methyl halides; it's still widely used. The compounds of this class are often described as or MeX (X - any halogen, Me - methyl group).
Related compounds
There are analogs with more than one hydrogen atom in methane is replaced by a halogen: Dihalomethane, , two hydrogen atoms replaced Trihalomethane, , three hydrogen atoms replaced Tetrahalomethane, , all four hydrogen atoms replaced Analogs with carbon atom replaced with a heavier group 14 element are also known: Monohalosilane, (with silicon, related to silane) Monohalogermane, (with germanium, related to germane) Monohalostannane, (with tin, related to stannane)
See also Methyl halide transferase – An enzyme producing some methyl halides
Notes
References