A powerful eye irritant in the smoke is:

Detailed Solution:

The correct answer is “Peroxyacetyle nitrate ”.

Peroxyacetyle nitrate (PAN) is a powerful eye irritant and a secondary pollutant formed in the atmosphere by the reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

It is a component of photochemical smog and can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath.