Name the products of combustion of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum products. How do they affect us and our environment ?

When coal and petroleum based fuels are burned, the products of combustion are: carbon  dioxide, water, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. If combustion takes place in an insufficient  supply of air then carbon monoxide is also produced.  

These products are harmful to human beings and also pollute the environment in the following  ways-  

1. Sulphur dioxide attacks the lungs and causes bronchitis and other diseases. It also  produces acid rain.  

2. Nitrogen oxides also attacks the breathing system and causes acid rain.

3. Carbon dioxide traps sun’s heat energy falling on the earth and increases the  temperature which leads to global warming.  

4. Carbon monoxide gas is poisonous and if it gets into our blood stream, it stops the red  blood cells from carrying oxygen from lungs to the rest of the body causing suffocation  and may even cause death.