Consider the following statements.
1. Natural gas can be supplied to homes and factories through pipes.
2. Natural gas is obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil.
3. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel because on burning only water is produced.
4. Natural gas is an exhaustible source of energy like fossil fuels.
Which alternative has the correct statements?

Options

A. 1 and 3
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and 4
D. 1, 3 and 4

Explanation

To determine which statements about natural gas are correct, let's analyze each statement one by one:

### Step 1: Analyze Statement 1
**Statement 1:** Natural gas can be supplied to homes and factories through pipes.
**Analysis:** This statement is true. Natural gas is commonly distributed through pipelines to homes and industries for heating and cooking.

### Step 2: Analyze Statement 2
**Statement 2:** Natural gas is obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil.
**Analysis:** This statement is false. Natural gas is not obtained by fractional distillation of crude oil; it is primarily extracted from natural gas fields or as a byproduct of oil extraction.

### Step 3: Analyze Statement 3
**Statement 3:** Natural gas is a cleaner fuel because on burning only water is produced.
**Analysis:** This statement is partially true. While burning natural gas produces primarily carbon dioxide and water, it is considered a cleaner fuel compared to coal and oil because it emits fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases. However, it does produce carbon dioxide, not just water.

### Step 4: Analyze Statement 4
**Statement 4:** Natural gas is an exhaustible source of energy like fossil fuels.
**Analysis:** This statement is true. Natural gas is indeed an exhaustible resource, as it is a fossil fuel that can be depleted over time.

### Conclusion
Based on the analysis:
- **Statement 1:** True
- **Statement 2:** False
- **Statement 3:** Partially true (but misleading as it suggests only water is produced)
- **Statement 4:** True

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 4.

### Final Answer
The alternative with the correct statements is: **1 and 4.**

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