During the combustion of gasoline in a car engine, which of the following chemical components is most commonly released in the exhaust?

• A. CO_2
• B. NH_3
• C. SO_2
• D. CH_4

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that combustion of gasoline primarily involves hydrocarbons reacting with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO\_2) and water (H\_2O).
2. Recall that gasoline is mainly composed of hydrocarbons, which contain carbon and hydrogen atoms.
3. During complete combustion, carbon atoms in the fuel combine with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO\_2), while hydrogen atoms form water (H\_2O).
4. Recognize that ammonia (NH\_3), sulfur dioxide (SO\_2), and methane (CH\_4) are not typical major products of gasoline combustion; NH\_3 is related to nitrogen compounds, SO\_2 comes from sulfur-containing fuels, and CH\_4 is unburned fuel.
5. Conclude that the most common chemical component released in the exhaust from gasoline combustion is carbon dioxide (CO\_2).