CH _ { 4 } is proposed to be the starting point of a rich organic chemistry .
Solid CH _ { 4 } abundances have previously been determined mostly toward high mass star forming regions .
Spitzer/IRS now provides a unique opportunity to probe solid CH _ { 4 } toward low mass star forming regions as well .
Infrared spectra from the Spitzer Space Telescope are presented to determine the solid CH _ { 4 } abundance toward a large sample of low mass young stellar objects .
25 out of 52 ice sources in the c 2 d ( cores to disks ) legacy have an absorption feature at 7.7 \mu m , attributed to the bending mode of solid CH _ { 4 } .
The solid CH _ { 4 } / H _ { 2 } O abundances are 2-8 % , except for three sources with abundances as high as 11–13 % .
These latter sources have relatively large uncertainties due to small total ice column densities .
Toward sources with H _ { 2 } O column densities above 2 \times 10 ^ { 18 } cm ^ { -2 } , the CH _ { 4 } abundances ( 20 out of 25 ) are nearly constant at 4.7 \pm 1.6 % .
Correlation plots with solid H _ { 2 } O , CH _ { 3 } OH , CO _ { 2 } and CO column densities and abundances relative to H _ { 2 } O reveal a closer relationship of solid CH _ { 4 } with CO _ { 2 } and H _ { 2 } O than with solid CO and CH _ { 3 } OH .
The inferred solid CH _ { 4 } abundances are consistent with models where CH _ { 4 } is formed through sequential hydrogenation of C on grain surfaces .
Finally the equal or higher abundances toward low mass young stellar objects compared with high mass objects and the correlation studies support this formation pathway as well , but not the two competing theories : formation from CH _ { 3 } OH and formation in gas phase with subsequent freeze-out .