Final answer:
Clogged fuel injectors produce larger gasoline droplets, which lead to a decreased rate of combustion reactions and reduced combustion efficiency in automobile engines, negatively impacting fuel economy and increasing emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the fuel injector in an automobile engine is clogged, it emits larger gasoline droplets, which negatively impacts the rate of combustion reactions occurring in the engine. This is because smaller droplets have a larger surface area to volume ratio, allowing for a more efficient and complete combustion process.
When droplets are larger due to a clogged injector, the surface area is reduced and the fuel cannot be burned as completely or as quickly, resulting in decreased combustion efficiency. Additionally, the presence of a catalytic converter helps in the conversion of harmful emissions like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides into less harmful products, thus reducing the overall pollution from gasoline combustion.