What are the major elements in natural gas?

Question

In particular, what are the most explosive components?

Simply, I am wondering if there were a leak which resulted in an explosion, what part of natural gas is the likeliest cuplret if someone were writing it as an equation. Ex: H + 20 -> H20. Well, if I wanted to say (Component of Natural Gas) + Heat -> Explosion, what would be within the ()s.

Answer 1

Natural gas is composed primarily of methane, so the major elements are carbon and hydrogen. Almost all other compounds are removed (and used for something else) from raw natural gas before it is burned as a fuel, except they deliberately add traces of mercaptan, which contains sulfur, to give the gas its characteristic smell; methane by itself is odorless and in case of a leak could build up to flammable or explosive levels.

Methane is highly flammable (CH4 + [2]O2 = CO2 + [2]H2O). If it leaks out into the air it will generally dissipate and decompose, however if it is confined (as in a house) and reaches levels of about 5 to 15% of the air, it will become explosive; a spark in that house may level it.

Answer 2

Natural gas consists of light hydrocarbons, the gas we use in our homes and to generate electricity is mostly propane but can contain methane, ethane, ethylene, propylene, (propane), butane, and butene. the lighter compounds (methane, ethane, ethylene) are generally the more flammable but there must the right amount of air mixture for an explosion to occur

Answer 3

I believe that the major elements in natural gas are C, H, O, and possibly N

Answer 4

I don't understand your question, maybe if you can expand it.

Answer 5

Sorry don't really know