Previous Year Question

Natural gas is a naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture whose principal component is Methane (CH₄). It may also contain smaller quantities of Ethane, Propane, Butane and certain non-hydrocarbon gases.

The molecular formula of Methane is CH₄. It consists of one Carbon atom bonded to four Hydrogen atoms and is the simplest alkane.

In natural-gas streams used in India, Methane generally occurs in much greater proportion than other hydrocarbons. For example, a GAIL gas-composition document associated with PNGRB shows Methane at approximately 92–94%, while other hydrocarbons occur in much smaller proportions.

Similarly, the Indian specification for automotive CNG prescribes a minimum Methane content of 90%, while limiting the amounts of Ethane and higher hydrocarbons.

Ethane can occur in natural gas, but it is not its principal component. Butane is another higher hydrocarbon and is particularly associated with LPG. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is not the principal hydrocarbon component of natural gas.