MCQ Detailed View

Cooking gas is a common term used for the fuel that powers stoves in homes and restaurants. In everyday usage, it is sometimes described as being composed of methane and oxygen. This answer is often mentioned in basic science MCQs, where methane (CH₄) is considered the main fuel component and oxygen is the supporter of combustion. Methane is indeed the primary constituent of natural gas, which is supplied through pipelines in many regions for domestic cooking.

However, in reality, the fuel commonly called “cooking gas” in cylinders is LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). LPG is not methane but a mixture of propane (C₃H₈) and butane (C₄H₁₀). These hydrocarbons are compressed into liquid form inside steel cylinders and released as gas when used. LPG burns with a clean blue flame, producing a large amount of heat without excessive smoke, which makes it a practical household fuel.

Methane, on the other hand, is a colorless, odorless gas that is the major component of natural gas. When supplied through underground pipelines, methane is used directly for cooking in many countries. Oxygen is essential for burning methane or LPG because no fuel can burn without oxygen. That is why in MCQs, the option “methane and oxygen” is often given as the expected answer.

To prevent accidents, an artificial odor (ethyl mercaptan) is added to LPG so that leaks can be detected easily. This safety measure has saved countless lives, since pure propane, butane, and methane are odorless.

In summary, the accepted answer in many exam-style questions is methane and oxygen, but scientifically, bottled cooking gas is actually a mixture of propane and butane, while natural gas used in pipelines is mainly methane. Both fuels play an essential role in meeting our daily cooking and heating needs.