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Inert

Definition

• An inert chemical substance is one that is not generally reactive. This is a synonym for "inactive" with respect to chemical reactions.

• Inert has a non-chemical meaning of being unable to move or resist movement; for example, "the accident victim was laying on the ground, inert."

Additional Info

In the periodic table of the elements shown below, the inert elements are shown in red. The noble gases, the last column of the table, include helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). Nitrogen (which, in the elemental form, occurs as N₂ gas) is also considered inert although it forms a wide variety of chemical compounds.



These elements are unreactive because they are very stable in their naturally occurring forms. While some of these can be made to react chemically, their compounds are usually not very stable (except for nitrogen). The term inert atmosphere is usually used to denote a nitrogen or argon atmosphere in a container.

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Chemical compounds can also be considered inert. For example, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), better known by the DuPont tradename TeflonTM, does not react with most substances. Likewise, sand, SiO2, is generally unreactive. We can also use the term to describe reactivity (or lack thereof) towards particular substances. For example, mercury reacts with aluminum metal (which is one reason why it is illegal to transport liquid mercury by aircraft) but is inert towards iron metal. Carbon dioxide is inert to many chemical reactions, but is incompatible (and can react violently) with alkali metals such as sodium and potassium. Using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher on a magnesium fire would be a VERY bad idea! Likewise, one may see the term "inert" used on pharmaceutical or pesticide labels to indicate components that are not active ingredients/components of the mixture. For example, pills are held together with binders that simply dissolve to release the medicine inside the pill. As the binder does not have any biological effect it may be referred to as an inert ingredient.

MSDS Relevance

Inert materials are good choices for chemical containers. For example, acid waste should not be stored in metal drums because these will quickly corrode. However, glass or polyethylene containers are inert to most acids. If a chemical spill occurs, one may need to clean up the spill by using an inert absorbing material such as vermiculite or sand. The MSDS will usually recommend a specific material, but not always. If in doubt, phone the manufacturer listed on the MSDS or check the instructions that come with your spill kit.

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Further Reading

• OSHA has a publication titled Deaths Involving the Inadvertent Connection of Air-line Respirators to Inert Gas Supplies
• Inert Pesticide Ingredients are discussed at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• WebElements is an interactive periodic table of the elements. Click on any of the noble gases (or other elements) for a wealth of other information.
• Some people believe that some "inert" drug components are not as inert as previously thought.
• The American Chemical Society has a multipage article Neil Bartlett and Reactive Noble Gases that explains the discovery of the first noble gas compounds.

See also: corrosive, flammable.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.