Here's why:

* Combustion is a chemical process involving rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light.

* In the case of gasoline, which is primarily made up of hydrocarbons, it reacts with oxygen in the air to produce carbon dioxide, water, and a large amount of energy in the form of heat and light.

Therefore, the burning of gasoline is a classic example of a combustion reaction.