Final answer:
LPG, used as domestic fuel, primarily consists of propane and butane, not ethylene. It is used for home heating, as a chemical feedstock, and as a motor vehicle fuel, offering benefits of nonpolluting combustion and efficient transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, used as a domestic fuel does not chiefly contain ethylene. Instead, it is typically a mixture of propane, propene, butane, and butenes, with propane and butane being the primary components. LPG is utilized for home heating, as a feedstock for chemical plants, and sometimes as an alternative motor vehicle fuel. It is valued for being a relatively nonpolluting fuel option and for its ease of transportation and storage once liquefied. The liquefaction of gases like LPG is crucial, enabling the reduction of volume and facilitating the economical transport and storage of the fuel.
The reference to LPG not containing ethylene is essential to dismiss any misconception that ethylene, albeit an olefin or alkene hydrocarbon like propene and butenes, is a major constituent of LPG. Furthermore, alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel are derived from biological sources and are increasingly being used as octane enhancers or direct fuels to lower carbon emissions and environmental impact. However, these have different energy contents and properties compared to LPG and traditional fossil fuels.