Why does burning natural gas produce less carbon dioxide than burning either petroleum or coal? Hint: Consider the chemical formulas of the compounds making up these materials.
A)Natural gas has fewer impurities, such as sulfur.
B)Natural gas is able to mix better with oxygen.
C)Natural gas contains a smaller proportion of carbon.
D)Natural gas actually produced more carbon dioxide, but less of other air pollutants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Natural gas (CH4) contains a smaller proportion of carbon than petroleum or coal, which means less carbon dioxide is produced per unit of energy released. Petroleum is primarily made up of hydrocarbons with a higher proportion of carbon atoms, and coal contains even more carbon along with other impurities such as sulfur.

Why Does Burning Natural Gas Produce Less Carbon Dioxide Than