Natural gas is an essential part of our lives.It is a mixture of gases with methane being the main component. The hydrocarbon gases in this mixture are what produce heat when burnt.Do you know what makes natural gas different from other fossil fuels? It is the cleanest hydrocarbon as it produces little ash, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen.Since ancient times people have known that gas is a natural occurrence, but its commercial use is a relatively recent development. It was during the 17th century, around 1785 when people first started producing natural gas from coal, predominantly used for lighthouses and streetlights.In China in 500 BC, crude pipelines made from bamboo were used to transport natural gas that came to the surface to boil seawater. This water was then used for drinking. In ancient Greece, the well-known Oracle at Delphi was built in a place where natural gas leaked from the ground. This kept the fire or flame burning. Nowadays, we use natural gas in our homes for heating and cooking. It’s also used in manufacturing and processing plants and to generate electricity.Also known as LNG and CNG, natural gas was first used commercially in Britain in 1785. It was produced from coal and used for lighting.Natural gas was first discovered in America in 1626 by French explorers. The explorers noticed that gases were escaping from the ground in and around the area of Lake Erie, and discovered these gases could be lit to create flames and offer heat.The first natural gas well in America was dug by William Hart in 1821 in Fredonia, New York. In 1816, Baltimore in Maryland became the first American city to light its streets with manufactured natural gas. The first municipally owned natural gas distribution company was created in Philadelphia in 1836.Sometimes natural gas is cooled to liquid form. This is known as liquefied natural gas (LNG) which makes it easy to store and safe to transport. Liquefied natural gas that is primarily methane is also used to power trains and ships. The Florida East Coast Railway uses this liquid natural gas as a fuel for some of its locomotives.Heavy components such as propane are removed from natural gas once it is recovered from the ground. Quite similar to natural gas, propane is an energy-efficient green fuel, however, it is considered more dangerous than gas as it is more likely to leak into the air.Read on for more interesting facts about natural gas and discover how natural gas is used, and some of its advantages and disadvantages. Once you have finished reading this article, why not read cell division facts and celery nutrition facts?The Formation Of Natural Gas And ExamplesWhen plants and animals die and are buried in the ground, they begin to decompose. This decomposing matter can come in contact with extreme heat from the earth and pressure from the surrounding rocks and soil. Over many millions of years, this pressure could turn the decomposing organic matter into natural fossil energy sources such as coal and natural gas. Hence, natural gas can be found throughout the world, including in the ocean. Rocks deep under the earth are where natural gas can most often be found. Natural gas wells are dug deep into the ground some can be as deep as 30,000 ft (9144 m).Natural gas can also be produced by micro-organisms that produce methane. These live in bogs, marshes, and landfills. This is known as the biogenic production of natural gas.Natural gas is a by-product that is created during the production of oil. Up until the early 20th century, this gas produced at crude oil fields was either burnt or vented. The offshore gas field located between Iran and Qatar is the world’s largest gas field.Gas that is produced from shale is known as shale gas. Shale is a type of sedimentary rock. Shale gas is one of the main sources of energy in the United States and Canada.Natural gas also occurs in large quantities in the Arctic regions. Known as crystallized natural gas or hydrates, it needs low temperature and high pressure to form. Extracting this gas can be very expensive.Natural gas production can also occur during the distillation of coal. This is known as town gas. This type of natural gas is the by-product of coke ovens. Tar that collects at the bottom of the coke ovens is used to make roads and for roofing.Natural gas can also be manufactured, with special machines used to turn plant and animal matter into gas without having to wait millions of years for it to occur naturally.The Characteristics Of Natural GasNatural gas is lighter than air. This gas is also colorless, tasteless in its natural state, and non-toxic. It is also odorless when extracted from the ground. However, utility companies add a non-toxic chemical odorant known as mercaptan to the gas. This gives the gas its characteristic rotten egg smell, making it easier to detect leaks.Another unique fact about natural gas is that it doesn’t freeze. This gas is safe, affordable, reliable, and efficient. Which is one of the reasons it’s become such a popular energy option.Natural gas is able to move through pipelines as it is subjected to high pressures. The 200- 1500 psi ( 1379-10342.1 kPa) pressure is what makes the gas move.The temperature at which natural gas is converted from its gaseous phase to a liquid is -260°F (-162.2 °C). This is especially useful in transporting this energy source by ship or across wide water bodies where there are no pipelines.The methane present in natural gas is what makes it highly flammable.The Various Uses And Importance Of Natural GasNatural gas was not as popular as oil and coal during the Industrial Revolution as it was difficult to store and transport. However, when it could be converted from a gaseous state to a liquefied state this problem was resolved. Also, the laying of pipelines has made it easy to transport this gas and it is now widely used in a number of fields. The invention of the Bunsen burner by Robert Bunsen in 1885 also made it possible to use this gas for different purposes.One of the primary uses of natural gas is power generation. In the United States, natural gas is the major source of power and fuel. With the demand and rise in popularity of electric cars, we would be using more power.Compressed natural gas (CNG) is also being widely used for vehicles as it can help to reduce emissions. It’s estimated that more than 11 million vehicles in the United States operate on natural gas.In our homes, we use natural gas for cooking and heating. Approximately half the homes in America use natural gas for heating as it’s cheaper and considered more effective than electricity. Natural gas is a preferred choice for most chefs as it is easier to control the temperature when cooking, and provides even heat distribution.In addition to power generation, natural gas is also used in large volumes in a number of industries such as in the production of fertilizers and chemicals. It is used to produce ammonia and hydrogen.Natural gas is also used in a few manufacturing processes. It’s a required ingredient in the production of plastic that is used to make credit cards, smartphones, and other everyday items.Some Disadvantages Of Natural GasJust like other energy sources including oil and coal, natural gas is also non-renewable, meaning it will run out eventually. Also, this non-renewable source of energy is not as clean as renewable energy sources such as wind or solar. However, when burned it produces less than half the carbon dioxide emissions of coal. This fuel source also produces fewer emissions than oil.Although natural gas is easier to transport and store, its volume is four times more than gasoline so it requires more storage space.To be able to use natural gas effectively, all heavy components or gases other than methane need to be extracted. This can result in many byproducts such as helium, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons.Burning natural gas can produce nitrogen oxides which can result in smog. Smog, along with other fuel emissions, is a major cause of air pollution in most big cities around the world. However, the amount of smog produced from gas is less than that generated by other fuels such as diesel or petrol.If stoves, heaters, and other devices that use natural gas are not properly ventilated, they can sometimes produce carbon monoxide. If inhaled, carbon monoxide can cause poisoning and can also be fatal. It’s particularly dangerous as it doesn’t have a smell, making it incredibly difficult to detect.In order to keep emissions low, many countries are turning to natural gas as an energy source for fuel and to produce electricity. In addition to being a source of electricity and energy, in the United States, the natural gas industry is critical for the economy, with the industry responsible for approximately 9.8 million jobs.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our 17 fun facts about natural gas for kids to learn about fossil fuels, then why not take a look at 91 facts about Singapore that will make you plan your next trip, or 33 facts about Noah from the Bible: Noah’s life and Noah’s ark for kids.
Natural gas is an essential part of our lives.
