Natural gas is methane and methane is a hydrocarbon. It is the simplest form of Hydrocarbon and from the same family of compounds such as petrol, diesel and coal. Methane is made up of 1 carbon atom and 4 hydrogen atoms to create a molecule of methane…or CH4. When we combine methane with oxygen (O2), and add heat a chemical reaction occurs where the carbon and hydrogen atoms are oxidised. This is better known as combustion and it releases heat, together with carbon dioxide (