Another very important reaction of alkanes is based upon their ability to burn in air in a highly exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction. A typical combustion reaction is that for ethane(2C2H6+O2=4C02+6H,O) Methane is the principal component of natural gas. Gasoline is a mixture of straight and branched chain alkanes containing 5-9 carbon atoms plus various additives Kerosene, diesel oil, and fuel oil are primarily mixtures of alkanes with higher molecular weights.Another very important reaction of alkanes is based upon their ability to burn in air in a highly exothermic oxidation-reduction reaction. A typical combustion reaction is that for ethane.(2C2H6+O2=4CO2+6H2O) Methane is the principal component of natural gas. Gasoline is a mixture of straight and branched chain alkanes containing 5~9 carbon atoms plus various additives. Kerosene, diesel oil, and fuel oil are primarily mixtures of alkanes with higher molecular weights