Which chemical components are commonly given off in car exhaust?

Car exhaust typically contains a variety of chemical components that result from fuel combustion. The correct response identifies carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) as commonly given off in car exhaust.

Carbon dioxide is a primary product of the combustion of carbon-based fuels, representing the major greenhouse gas emitted from vehicles. Water vapor is also formed during combustion when hydrogen in the fuel combines with oxygen. Nitrogen oxides, which include compounds like nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are produced when the high temperatures of combustion cause nitrogen (from the air) to react with oxygen. These NOx compounds contribute significantly to air pollution and are regulated due to their role in forming smog and acid rain.

Other potential exhaust gases, while they may also be present in small amounts, do not make up the primary components released from internal combustion engines as significantly as CO2, H2O, and NOx. For instance, while oxygen is present in the atmosphere and may be used during combustion, it is not a product of combustion and therefore is not typically found in exhaust. Similarly, the presence of just carbon monoxide (CO), while relevant, does not encompass the full scope of the significant constituents