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Technically, atomic nitrogen has less mass than a molecule of methane (CH4 = natural gas) with the former having a mass of 14 and the latter a mass of 16.04.

However, in nature, nitrogen exists in its molecular form consisting of two nitrogen atoms.

Thus, molecular nitrogen has a molecular weight of 28 vs. 16.04 for methane, making a molecule of atmospheric nitrogen heavier than one of methane.

This translates into a density difference as follows:

N2 density = 1.251 g/L at STP (standard temperature and pressure)

CH4 density = 0.717 g/L at STP

Final note: "Natural Gas" is not actually 100% methane. It has a variable composition consisting of 70-90% methane, 5-15% ethane (C2H6) and trace amounts of propane, butane, and other gases.

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