How many cubic feet of air are required for the combustion of 1 cubic foot of natural gas?

The correct understanding regarding the combustion of natural gas involves recognizing how much air is needed to achieve complete combustion. For natural gas, which primarily consists of methane (CH₄), it typically requires about 10 cubic feet of air to combust 1 cubic foot of natural gas fully.

This ratio arises from the stoichiometric combustion equation, which illustrates the need for adequate oxygen to ensure that the natural gas burns efficiently. The combustion reaction requires a specific ratio of air (which contains oxygen) to gas to produce byproducts like carbon dioxide and water without creating excess carbon monoxide or unburned hydrocarbons.

Thus, the requirement of approximately 10 cubic feet of air per cubic foot of natural gas is aligned with combustion efficiency standards and helps in ensuring clean and complete burning of the fuel source. This is why the answer indicating 10 cubic feet is the correct interpretation of the air-to-fuel ratio for complete combustion of natural gas.