Gasoline contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms, yet nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide are produced when gasoline burns. What is the source of the nitro - gen and oxygen atoms?

The answer to the question is

The source of the nitro - gen and oxygen atoms is from the atmosphere

Explanation:

When gasoline burns oxygen from the atmosphere supports the combustion reaction.

For example the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle pulls in air from the surrounding atmosphere to make use of the oxygen in aiding the combustion of the gasoline to drive the pistons that ultimately moves the vehicle. The air from which the oxygen is absorbed also contains more amount of Nitrogen by percentage than oxygen. The nitrogen therefore enters into the combustion reaction that eventually produces nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide

When fuels are burned either in vehicle engines or other processes, high temperatures are reached. At these high temperatures, nitrogen and oxygen from the air (which oxygen and nitrogen have significant percentages) combine to produce nitrogen monoxide. When this nitrogen monoxide is released from these systems, it combines with oxygen in the air to form nitrogen dioxide.