Air Pollution

Sometimes fuels burn without enough oxygen and this can produce the poisonous gas carbon monoxide (chemical formula: CO) which has only one oxygen atom.

Sulfur dioxide is produced when the impurities in some fuels burn and nitrogen oxides are produced when nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen. Both of these gases can react with water in the clouds to produce acid rain.

Acid rain can damage stone, kill plants (e.g. trees) and animals (e.g. fish).

incomplete combustion:
hydrocarbon fuel + oxygen -> carbon monoxide + carbon + water