Advertisem*nt
Most Popular in Physical Chemistry
Credit: Outside Chronicles via YouTube
In the frozen woods of western New York state, light shimmers from inside a grotto at Eternal Flame Falls. Even in winter after the waterfall ices over, visitors can ignite this natural gas seepage coming from the rock formation below the falls and watch the flame emerge again. Eternal Flame Falls stands out among other natural flames because it’s so close to a running waterfall. Also, the content of the natural gas it emits is different—it is unusually high in ethane and propane. The two compounds make up 35% of Eternal Flame Falls’ gas, which stands in contrast to the 5–10% ethane and propane and about 90% methane in typical natural gas from other sites. The gas content at different sites can depend on the organisms that lived there millions of years ago and on the bacteria living in the wells today that can digest and convert gases into other compounds.
Credit: Outside Chronicles via YouTube
Do science. Take pictures. Win money. Enter our photo contest here.
Related C&EN Content:
Chemical & Engineering News
ISSN 0009-2347
Copyright © 2024 American Chemical Society
To send an e-mail to multiple recipients, separate e-mail addresses with a comma, semicolon, or both.
Title: Chemistry in Pictures: Eternal flame
Author:
Chemical & Engineering News will not share your email address with any other person or company.
Article:
This article has been sent to the following recipient:
Join the conversation
The power is now in your (nitrile gloved) hands
Sign up for a free account to get more articles. Or choose the ACS option that’s right for you.
Already have an ACS ID? Log in
