methane neon

Methane exists as molecules. Eachmethane molecule consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, and itsmolecular formula is CH4.

Neon is a noble gas, which exists as discrete atoms (or said to be monatomic molecules).

The attractive forces between methane molecules and that between neon atoms areboth van der Waals' forces. Obviously,the size of a methane molecule is much greater a neon atom, and thus the vander Waals' forces between methane molecules are stronger than those between neon atoms. As moreenergy is needed to separate methane molecules than neon atoms, methane has ahigher boiling point.