Sharon Hazen, age 14, of Patterson, N.J., for her question:

WHERE DO WE GET PROPANE?

Propane is a colorless, odorless gas of the alkane series of hydrocarbons. It is found in crude oil, in natural gas and as a by product of petroleum refining.

Propane does not react strongly at room temperature. It does react, however, with chlorine at room temperature if the mixture is exposed to light. At higher temperatures, propane burns in air, producing carbon dioxide and water as final products, and is valuable as a fuel.

About half the propoane produced annually in the United States is used as a domestic and industrial fuel. When it is used as a fuel, propane is not separated from the related compounds, butane, ethane and propylene.

Propane is also used as a so called bottled gas, as a motor fuel and a refrigerant, a low temperature solvent and as a source of propylene and ethylene.