Propane and Natural Gas, the Dummies Comparison

Chemical formula of propane

It seems like forever... was it just a week ago that we caught some scientifically ignorant type lecturing us about the difference between methane and natural gas? Yes, it was! Well, the internet is apparently infested with scientific illiterates prepared to mis- and under-inform the public about every topic under the sun. That includes philosopher-turned-freelancer Eric Dontigney, who leveraged his psychology minor (well, no...) to tell HomeSteady.com readers just "What Is the Difference Between Propane and Natural Gas?" Do we see a trend developing here?

For those who actually want to know, propane is a hydrocarbon that contains 3 carbon atoms and 8 hydrogens. It's a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but when compressed becomes a liquid. Most natural gas is around 80% methane (a lighter hydrocarbon) with some propane and other gaseous components included.

According to Dontigney, who we rather doubt ever took a chemistry course on his way to a philosophy BA,

"There is a common public misunderstanding that propane and natural gas are the same thing. This misunderstanding can be attributed to the number of apparent similarities between the two gases." We rather doubt that statement's true, but then most of our staff already know that the two aren't the same thing. Dontigney goes on to list several "differences," including propane is heavier than natural gas (but he doesn't say why) propane has been used in flamethrowers, but natural gas hasn't (but he doesn't say why) Eric also makes the misleading claim that

"While natural gas, which is mostly methane, occurs normally in nature, propane is a byproduct of the refining process of either natural gas or oil."

Which is incorrect: propane is not a "byproduct" of refining, it is one of several components of gaseous hydrocarbons that may be separated during the refining process. Dontigney's notion that propane is somehow manufactured is ludicrous.

So what's left? Dontigney combines misleading statements with claims made in a vacuum -- pretty much par for the course at eHow, we think. But the biggest reason Eric's collecting that Dumbass of the Day trophy? He didn't ever mention the real difference between propane and natural gas: the organic chemistry. Idiot.

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