Methyl iodide, also called
iodomethane, and commonly abbreviated "MeI", is the
chemical compound with the formula CH
3I. It is a
dense, colorless,
volatile liquid. In terms of chemical structure, it is related to
methane by replacement of one
hydrogen atom by an atom of
iodine. It is naturally emitted by
rice plantations in small amounts. It is also produced in vast quantities estimated to be greater than 214,000 tons annually by algae and kelp in the world's temperate oceans, and in lesser amounts on land by terrestrial fungi and bacteria. It is used in
organic synthesis as a source of
methyl groups.