noble gas

Any of the seven chemical elements that make up the rightmost group of the periodic table as usually arranged: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, and element 118. All are colourless, odourless, and nonflammable and, except for element 118, occur in tiny amounts in the atmosphere (though helium is the most plentiful element in the universe after hydrogen). Their stable electronic configurations, with no unpaired electrons to share, make them extremely unreactive—hence “noble” (i.e., aloof) or inert—though krypton, xenon, and radon, with outer electrons held less firmly, can form compounds (mainly with fluorine). These gases absorb and give off electromagnetic radiation in a much less complex way than other substances, a property exploited in their use in fluorescent lighting devices and discharge lamps. They glow with a characteristic colour when confined in a transparent container at low pressure with an electric current passing through it. Their very low boiling and melting points make them useful as refrigerants for low-temperature research (see cryogenics).

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In English, to be inert is to be in a state of doing little or nothing.

Chemistry

In chemistry, the term inert is used to describe something that is not chemically active. The noble gases were described as being inert because they did not react with the other elements or themselves. It is now understood that the reason that inert gases are completely inert to basic chemical reactions (such as combustion, for example) is that their outer valence shell is completely filled with electrons. With a filled outer valence shell, an inert atom is not easily able to acquire or lose an electron, and is therefore not able to participate in any chemical reactions. For inert atoms or molecules, a lot of energy is involved before it can combine with other elements to form compounds. A high temperature and pressure is necessary, and sometimes requires the presence of a catalyst.

For example, elemental nitrogen is inert under standard room conditions and exists as a diatomic molecule, N₂. The inertness of nitrogen is due to the presence of the very strong triple covalent bond in the N₂ molecule.

Inert atmospheres of gases such as dinitrogen and argon are routinely used in chemical reactions where air sensitive and water sensitive compounds are handled.

Legal Terminology

The US National Pesticides Law divides the chemicals in pesticides into two groups, active and inert. Ths is legal language used to confused the meaning of the ingredient. Inert chemical, means that the chemical may still have an effect, it just won’t have an effect on the pest which the pesticide was meant for.

Environmental Protection Agency quote, “An inert ingredient may have biological activity of it’s own, may be toxic to humans, and may be chemically active.”

Number theory

In the branch of mathematics known as algebraic number theory, a prime ideal is said to be inert if it is still prime when considered in an extension field. Such a prime might have instead split as a product of other prime ideals, but by being inert it remains essentially unchanged.

Munitions

In the area of weapons, an inert munition is one in which all energetic material such as primer, fuze, and explosive or incendiary fill have been removed or rendered harmless. Inert munitions are used in military training and are collected in museums and by private individuals. See also military dummy. Typically, inert munitions are painted entirely in light blue and/or have the word "INERT" stencilled on them in a prominent position.