The primary gas released during the combustion of natural gas is carbon dioxide. When natural gas, which is primarily composed of methane (CH₄), combusts in the presence of oxygen, it undergoes a chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide and water vapor as byproducts. The chemical equation for this process can be summarized as:
CH₄ + 2 O₂ → CO₂ + 2 H₂O
In this reaction, each molecule of methane reacts with oxygen to yield carbon dioxide and water. The production of carbon dioxide is a significant aspect of combustion since it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, which are a concern for climate change.
Other gases may also be produced during natural gas combustion, particularly at high temperatures or in incomplete combustion conditions, but carbon dioxide remains the primary product when the combustion is complete and efficient. Options like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide do not form as the main products during the combustion of natural gas under standard conditions.