Natural gas primarily consists of which component?

Natural gas is primarily composed of methane, which is a colorless, odorless gas that is the simplest hydrocarbon (consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms). Methane typically makes up about 70-90% of natural gas, making it the main component responsible for the fuel's energy content and combustion characteristics.

The presence of methane in natural gas is significant because it burns cleanly, producing carbon dioxide and water vapor as byproducts, which is important for minimizing environmental impact as compared to fuels with a higher carbon content. The other hydrocarbons listed—propane, butane, and ethane—are lighter gases often found in natural gas but in much smaller quantities than methane. These components have different properties and uses, primarily as liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) for heating and cooking, but they do not constitute the primary makeup of natural gas itself.