How does natural gas differ from propane?

As the name suggests, natural gas is derived from the collection of volatile gases that are released from oil deposits, which are linked to volatile gases from the natural breakdown of petroleum products.

Since natural gas is a product of nature, it is not pure; rather, it is a mixture of volatile hydrocarbons, the lighter of which are primarily methane, along with ethane, propane, and butane. Tiny amounts of impurities like carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, and water are also mixed in with the hydrocarbons.

Propane is a pure hydrocarbon with three carbons that is produced by humans, while natural gas is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons.

Natural gas and propane are both hydrocarbon gases commonly used for heating, cooking, and powering appliances. The main differences between them lie in their composition, availability, and energy content. Natural gas primarily consists of methane, whereas propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Propane is denser than natural gas and is typically stored and transported in liquid form. While natural gas is distributed through pipelines, propane is often stored in tanks and delivered to homes and businesses. In terms of energy content, propane has a higher energy density than natural gas, which means it can produce more heat when burned.