Question

Where is pentane found in nature?

Answer 1

In crude oil.

Explanation:

Crude oil is indeed CRUDE: it is a black tarry substance containing a range of hydrocarbons, both aromatic and aliphatic.

Crude oil is a mixture of [petroleum products.](http://chemistry.about.com/od/geochemistry/a/Chemical-Composition-Of-Petroleum.htm) It contains everything from methane and longer alkanes, olefins and aromatics, all the way up to tar. The more volatile fractions, i.e. pentane, are easily (?) separated on a fractionating tower. Obviously, the heating and distillation of these highly inflammable materials must constitute an enormous safety hazard.