Natural gas primarily consists of methane (CH4). When methane is burned in air (which provides oxygen), it reacts to form carbon dioxide and water. The balanced chemical equation for this combustion reaction is:
\[
CH_4 (g) + 2O_2 (g) \rightarrow CO_2 (g) + 2H_2O (g)
\]
In this reaction, methane (CH4) reacts with oxygen (O2) to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O).