What are the primary characteristics of natural gas?

Natural gas is primarily characterized as non-toxic, colorless, and odorless. These attributes are crucial for safety and information purposes. Being non-toxic means that natural gas does not pose a direct health risk to humans in terms of poisoning or chemical exposure under normal conditions. Its colorless nature means it is invisible to the naked eye, which emphasizes the need for safety measures since leaks cannot be readily detected visually.

While natural gas itself is odorless, an odorant—commonly mercaptan—is added to assist with leak detection, providing a distinctive smell that helps alert individuals to its presence. This enhancement is not a natural characteristic of the gas but is crucial for safety due to its flammable nature. The flammability of natural gas is significant, as it can ignite and cause explosions if it accumulates in confined spaces.

Thus, the correct answer encapsulates these primary characteristics of natural gas, highlighting both its physical properties and the implications for safety procedures in handling this energy source.