What is the main hydrocarbon in natural gas?

Methane is the main hydrocarbon in natural gas.

Unprocessed natural gas is composed primarily of methane, with smaller quantities of ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, and water vapor. The exact composition varies by geological formation and production field.

Methane has one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms, giving it the chemical formula CH₄. It is the simplest alkane and burns to produce carbon dioxide, water, and heat. This high energy content makes it useful for electricity generation, industrial heating, and household cooking.

Methane is not the same as natural gas: natural gas is a mixture, while methane is its principal component. Methane is also a potent greenhouse gas when released without combustion, including through leaks during production, processing, transmission, and distribution. Liquefied natural gas remains mostly methane but is cooled to about −162 °C so it can be transported as a liquid.