The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The burning of fossil fuels releases various by-products into the atmosphere, significantly impacting environmental health through air pollution and the alteration of atmospheric composition.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The burning of coal and petroleum releases oxides of sulphur ($SO_2$) and nitrogen ($NO_x$). These are major air pollutants. When these oxides mix with atmospheric moisture, they form sulphuric acid and nitric acid, leading to acid rain. Acid rain increases soil acidity and leaches away essential nutrients, thereby reducing soil fertility rather than benefiting it.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Acid rain has detrimental effects on the environment and infrastructure. It damages crops by affecting leaves and inhibiting photosynthesis, acidifies soil making it unsuitable for cultivation, and corrodes buildings and monuments, particularly those made of marble and limestone (a phenomenon known as "stone leprosy").
- Statement 3 is Correct: Trees act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from the atmosphere for photosynthesis. Deforestation reduces the number of trees available to absorb $CO_2$, leading to an accumulation of this greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming.
Key Takeaway: The combustion of fossil fuels releases harmful oxides that cause acid rain and degrade soil, while deforestation exacerbates the greenhouse effect by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.