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Q50 (CDS-I/2006) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Applied everyday chemistry Answer Verified

Assertion (A): The main component of natural gas is butane. Reason (R): Butane is easily liquified under pressure

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

Assertion (A) is false because the main component of natural gas is methane (CH4), not butane. Methane typically constitutes 80 to 90 percent of natural gas [3][t3]. While butane is present in natural gas, it is considered a minor constituent or a 'natural gas liquid' (NGL) [1][t6][t7]. Reason (R) is true because butane has a critical temperature (425 K or 152 °C) well above room temperature, allowing it to be easily liquefied under pressure at ambient temperatures [t4][t8]. In contrast, methane has a very low critical temperature (-82.6 °C), making it much harder to liquefy, requiring cryogenic temperatures for storage as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) [t4][t5]. Therefore, while butane's ease of liquefaction is a known physical property, the assertion regarding its dominance in natural gas is incorrect.

Sources

  1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 9: Distribution of World Natural Resources > natural gas as a Resource > p. 15
  2. [3] https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/IR/nbsir85-3028.pdf
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