what is the difference between natural gas and propane?

Answer 1

The difference between propane, or liquid petroleum gas (LPG), and natural gas comes down to their portability, compression, energy efficiency, and cost. However, there is generally no difference when it comes to performance in appliances for heating, cooking, or drying. The mixture of natural gas is comprised of propane, along with other gases like methane, butane, ethane, and pentane.

One difference in the physical properties of propane and natural gas is how easily they liquefy and transport. Propane turns into a liquid at —46° F (-43° C), so it's easy to compress and carry in a portable tank. You can buy compressed propane at most gas stations. It's decompressed by a valve at the source of use, such as a barbeque grill. Yet natural gas doesn't compress as easily. It usually comes to your home from a utility company along dedicated lines to power things like a central heating system, clothes dryer, and water heater.

Propane is heavier than air which is heavier than natural gas. Both natural gas and propane will dissipate into the air if they are released in an open enough environment and both can pose an explosive risk if they concentrate enough and are ignited. However, because propane is heavier, it tends to fall to the ground, collect, and pose a greater explosive risk. On the other hand, because natural gas is lighter than air, it tends to rise and dissipate into the air, posing less of an explosive risk.

Propane provides more energy per unit volume than does natural gas. Heat is measured in BTUs, or British Thermal Units. Propane provides about 2500 BTUs for the same volume of natural gas that only gives 1000 BTUs. However, natural gas can be less expensive at up to one-sixth the cost of propane, depending on where you live. Utilities in colder climates might supply natural gas for less money, especially during winter months. Some rural areas don't have access to a utility company that provides gas service.

Since they are both petroleum distillates, made of hydrocarbons, these gases have comparable power. Natural gas, as its name implies, develops naturally in deposits underground, so it only needs to be pumped out to use. Propane, since it is one of the gases in those deposits, must be further separated and distilled.

You probably couldn't tell the difference between their performance on a grill or water heater. They ignite at the same temperature. Some barbecue enthusiasts prefer natural gas because it is a cleaner burning fuel, which means it doesn't release as many pollutants into the air. Exhaust from propane might affect the taste of food. To the end user, there aren't many differences between natural gas and propane, but they do differ in their chemical properties.

Answer 2

Natural gas is a gas at room temperature, however it is put under pressure and stored as a liquid in a tank. Natural gas is primarily methane(CH4) but includes quantities of ethane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide. They put mercaptans, which are smelly sulfur containing organic compounds in natural gas to give it its smell. Now propane contains 3 carbons and is also a gas at room temperature however it is a also put under pressure and stored as a liquid in a tank. A tank for a BBQ would be one example. Propane also burns hotter than natural gas. This is mainly due to the fact that propane is a pure substance. Natural gas is a mixture of many different things therfore it will not burn as hot as propane. If it was pure methane it would burn hotter considering it has a higher bond dissociation energy as compared to propane.

Answer 3

Natural gas is just that it comes out of the ground naturally and then they clean it up some, propane is made from oil, not as clean but it burns hotter

Answer 4

The Alkanes:

Methane
CH4
Ethane
C2H6
Propane
C3H8
Butane
C4H10
Pentane
C5H12
Hexane
C6H14
Heptane
C7H16
Octane
C8H18
Nonane
C9H20
Decane
C10H22
Undecane
C11H24
Dodecane
C12H26

Answer 5

The main difference.......Propane is in liquid form, natural gas is in the form of gas.

Answer 6

Propane has a specific chemical forumla of C3H8.

Natural gas is composed of many different low molecular weight combustible molecules.
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The smell in natural gas comes from a mercaptan they add to it so that you can know if there is a leak by the smell and get the heck out of there. It's explosive!

Answer 7

Different chemical formulations.

Methane (natural gas) is CH4 and burns cleanly
Propane is like C3H8 and does not burn as cleanly.

Answer 8

one u smoke it and the other one u don't. Natural Gas is not the one u smoke. FUNNY, U SHOULD GET WHAT I MEAN.

Answer 9

Natural gas, commonly referred to as gas, is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields, and in coal beds. When methane-rich gases are produced by the anaerobic decay of non-fossil organic material, these are referred to as biogas. Sources of biogas include swamps, marshes, and landfills, (see landfill gas), as well as sewage sludge and manure, by way of anaerobic digesters, in addition to enteric fermentation particularly in cattle.

The primary component of natural gas is methane (CH4), the shortest and lightest hydrocarbon molecule. It also contains heavier gaseous hydrocarbons such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10), as well as other sulphur containing gases, in varying amounts, see also natural gas condensate. Natural gas also contains and is the primary market source of helium.

Organosulfur compounds and hydrogen sulfide are common contaminants which must be removed prior to most uses. Gas with a significant amount of sulfur impurities, such as hydrogen sulfide, is termed sour gas and often referred to as "acid gas". Processed Natural gas that is available to end-users is tasteless and odorless, however, before gas is distributed to end-users, it is odorized by adding small amounts of thiols, to assist in leak detection. Processed Natural gas is, in itself, harmless to the human body, however, natural gas is a simple asphyxiant and can kill if it displaces air to the point where the oxygen content will not support life.

Natural gas can also be hazardous to life and property through an explosion. Natural gas is lighter than air, and so tends to dissipate into the atmosphere. But when natural gas is confined, such as within a house, gas concentrations can reach explosive mixtures and, if ignited, result in blasts that could destroy buildings. Methane has a lower explosive limit of 5% in air, and an upper explosive limit of 15%.

Explosive concerns with compressed natural gas used in vehicles are almost non-existent, due to the escaping nature of the gas, and the need to maintain concentrations between 5% and 15% to trigger explosions.


Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a liquid that is transportable in inexpensive containers. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing. It is commonly used as a heat source for engines, barbecues, and homes. Its name was derived from propionic acid.

When commonly sold as fuel, it is also known as liquified petroleum gas (LPG or LP-gas) and can be a mixture of propane with smaller amounts of propylene, butane and butylene. The odorant (ethanethiol) is also added so that people can easily smell the gas in case of a leak. In North America, LPG is primarily propane (at least 90%), with the rest mostly butane and propylene. This is the HD5 standard, primarily written for vehicle fuels; note that not all product labeled "propane" conforms to this standard.

Unlike natural gas, propane is heavier than air (1.5 times denser). In its raw state, propane sinks and pools at the floor. Liquid propane will flash to a vapor at atmospheric pressure and appears white due to moisture condensing from the air.

Propane is nontoxic; however, when abused as an inhalant it poses a mild asphyxiation risk through oxygen deprivation. It must also be noted that commercial product contains hydrocarbons beyond propane, which may increase risk. Propane and its mixtures may cause frostbite during rapid expansion.

Propane combustion is much cleaner than gasoline, though not as clean as natural gas. The presence of C-C bonds, plus the C=C bond of propylene, create organic exhausts besides carbon dioxide and water vapor. These bonds also cause propane to burn with a visible flame

Answer 10

none
natural gas is dangerous because it doesn't smell so they are putting this smell in it and call it propane.