A process for preparing C 2 and C 3 hydrocarbons comprising (a) introducing a feedstream into a reactor, the feedstream comprising hydrogen gas and a gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof, such that the H 2 gas is present in an amount of from 10 volume percent to 90 volume percent, based on combined volumes of the hydrogen gas and the gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof; and (b) contacting the feedstream and a mixed catalyst in the reactor, the mixed catalyst comprising as components a mixed metal oxide catalyst selected from a copper oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/alumina catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst, a chromium oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, and combinations thereof; and a non-metal-modified molecular sieve catalyst selected from SAPO-34, SSZ-13, SAPO-18, SAPO-5, and combinations thereof, such names corresponding to the naming convention of the International Zeolite Association; under reaction conditions sufficient to form a product mixture, the reaction conditions comprising a reactor temperature ranging from 300 degrees Celsius to 440 degrees Celsius; a pressure of at least one bar (100 kilopascals); and a gas hourly space velocity of at least 500 reciprocal hours; the product mixture having, as calculated on a carbon monoxide-free, carbon dioxide-free, and hydrogen-free basis, a combined ethane and propane content that is more than 45 percent by weight; a methane content of less than 15 percent by weight; a combined butane and higher saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 30 percent by weight; and a combined unsaturated hydrocarbon and oxygenate content of less than 10 percent by weight; each weight percentage being based upon total product mixture weight and, when taken together, equaling 100 percent by weight. (a) introducing a feedstream into a reactor, the feedstream comprising hydrogen gas and a gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof, such that the H 2 gas is present in an amount of from 10 volume percent to 90 volume percent, based on combined volumes of the hydrogen gas and the gas selected from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof; and (b) contacting the feedstream and a mixed catalyst in the reactor, the mixed catalyst comprising as components a mixed metal oxide catalyst selected from a copper oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/alumina catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst, a chromium oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, and combinations thereof; and a non-metal-modified molecular sieve catalyst selected from SAPO-34, SSZ-13, SAPO-18, SAPO-5, and combinations thereof, such names corresponding to the naming convention of the International Zeolite Association; under reaction conditions sufficient to form a product mixture, the reaction conditions comprising a reactor temperature ranging from 300 degrees Celsius to 440 degrees Celsius; a pressure of at least one bar (100 kilopascals); and a gas hourly space velocity of at least 500 reciprocal hours; the product mixture having, as calculated on a carbon monoxide-free, carbon dioxide-free, and hydrogen-free basis, a combined ethane and propane content that is more than 45 percent by weight; a methane content of less than 15 percent by weight; a combined butane and higher saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 30 percent by weight; and a combined unsaturated hydrocarbon and oxygenate content of less than 10 percent by weight; each weight percentage being based upon total product mixture weight and, when taken together, equaling 100 percent by weight. a mixed metal oxide catalyst selected from a copper oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/alumina catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst, a chromium oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, and combinations thereof; and a copper oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, a copper oxide/alumina catalyst, a copper oxide/zinc oxide/alumina catalyst, a chromium oxide/zinc oxide catalyst, and combinations thereof; and a non-metal-modified molecular sieve catalyst selected from SAPO-34, SSZ-13, SAPO-18, SAPO-5, and combinations thereof, such names corresponding to the naming convention of the International Zeolite Association; a reactor temperature ranging from 300 degrees Celsius to 440 degrees Celsius; a pressure of at least one bar (100 kilopascals); and a gas hourly space velocity of at least 500 reciprocal hours; a combined ethane and propane content that is more than 45 percent by weight; a methane content of less than 15 percent by weight; a combined butane and higher saturated hydrocarbon content of less than 30 percent by weight; and a combined unsaturated hydrocarbon and oxygenate content of less than 10 percent by weight; each weight percentage being based upon total product mixture weight and, when taken together, equaling 100 percent by weight.