Monohalomethane


Structural formula
NameFluoromethane
Methyl fluoride
Chloromethane
Methyl chloride
Bromomethane
Methyl bromide
Iodomethane
Methyl iodide
Melting point−137,8 °C−97,4 °C−93,7 °C−66 °C
Boiling point−78,4 °C−23,8 °C4,0 °C42 °C
Space-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.

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,
  • Monohalogermane,
  • Monohalostannane,