As a byproduct found in the extraction process for both natural gas and crude oil, propane has gone from being bothersome to being a very versatile and useful product. In the early 1900's when oil was first being refined into gasoline, there was concern among drivers that the gasoline that they would purchase for their cars would evaporate very quickly, resulting in nearly half of the product being almost instantly lost. 

In response to this concern chemists studied the gasoline and discovered it contained a hydrocarbon atom with a much lower boiling point than the liquid gasoline, which caused it to evaporate at normal temperatures. The chemists then devised ways to capture these atoms as they evaporated, thereby making the gasoline more stable but also saving the previously lost atoms.  This preserved product, later named propane, proved to be useful in many ways. 

Propane has now became a very common, every day product due to the many positive characteristics of the gas. Some of these include:

• Versatility - propane is used in a variety of different applications including as an intermediary in chemical processes, as a propellant for many aerosols, as fuel for household items such a clothes dryers and barbecue grills, and increasingly as an alternative fuel for vehicles. 
• Portability - one very useful characteristic of propane is the fact that it can be relatively easily liquefied and stored and transported as a liquid. This benefit is the result of liquid propane having a volume equal to only 1/270th of the same amount of gaseous propane. When stored in pressurized containers, the propane can be maintained in this condensed liquid state without having to be refrigerated. 
• Clean -  compared to many other fossil fuels, propane produces nearly negligible amounts of greenhouse gases when burned.  This makes its use much friendlier to the atmosphere. In addition, propane is non-toxic and non-caustic so even if it is spilled on land or water it has no long-term impact on the environment as it will not poison plants or animals.  The only effects a spill of liquid propane could have on the environment is that it could freeze surrounding plants due to its very low temperature or it could burn plants if immediately ignited. 

All in all, propane is a readily available, inexpensive and versatile product which can be useful. As people learn the many benefits, they should seek additional ways to integrate propane into their everyday lives. If you would like to take advantage of the benefits of propane, check out a company like Sunrise Cooperative Inc.