Natural gas is a naturally occurring combustible gaseous mixture composed primarily of low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, typically dominated by methane (CH₄) with varying proportions of ethane, propane, butanes, and higher alkanes, as well as inorganic components such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and helium. It is generated through thermogenic and biogenic processes in sedimentary basins and accumulates in porous rock formations. As a substance, it is characterized by low density, high specific energy content per unit mass, and phase behavior governed by pressure–temperature conditions, making it suitable for pipeline transport, liquefaction (LNG), and use as a feedstock in petrochemical and energy conversion processes.
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