Inert

Inert

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

Contents

Chemistry

In chemistry, the term inert is used to describe a substance that is not chemically reactive.

The noble gases were previously known as inert gases because of their perceived lack of participation in any chemical reactions. The reason for this is that their outmost electron shells (valence shells) are completely filled, so that they have little tendency to acquire or lose electrons. It is now known that these gases in fact do react to form chemical compounds, such as xenon tetrafluoride. Hence, they have been renamed to noble gases. However, a large amount of energy is required to drive such reactions, usually in the form of heat, pressure, or radiation, often assisted by catalysts. The resulting compounds often need to be kept in moisture-free conditions at low temperatures to prevent rapid decomposition back into their elements.

The term inert may also be applied in a relative sense. For example, molecular nitrogen is inert under ordinary conditions, existing as diatomic molecules, N2. The presence of a strong triple covalent bond in the N2 molecule renders it unreactive under normal circumstances. Nevertheless, nitrogen gas does react with the alkali metal lithium to form compound lithium nitride (Li3N), even under ordinary conditions. Under high pressures and temperatures and with the right catalysts, nitrogen becomes more reactive; the Haber process uses such conditions to produce ammonia from atmospheric nitrogen.

Inert atmospheres consisting of gases such as argon, nitrogen, or helium are commonly used in chemical reaction chambers and in storage containers for air-sensitive or water-sensitive substances, to prevent unwanted side-reactions of these substances with air and water.

Pesticides

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act divides the ingredients in pesticides into two groups: active and inert. An inert chemical, under this context, is one that does not have a toxic effect on the species the pesticide is meant to combat, but that does not rule out that it may still have a biological activity on other species, including being toxic to humans. Solvents, propellents, preservatives, among others, are thus considered inert ingredients in pesticides.[1]

Since 1997, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has recommended that pesticide manufacturers label the non-active ingredients as "other ingredients" rather than "inert" to prevent misinformation to the public.[1]

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 field of weapons and explosives, an inert munition is one in which all energetic material such as primers, fuses, and the explosive or incendiary materials within them have been removed or otherwise rendered harmless. Inert munitions are used in military and naval training, and they are also collected and displayed by public museums, or by private parties. See also military dummy. Typically, American and NATO inert munitions are painted entirely in light blue and/or have the word "INERT" stenciled on them in prominent locations.

References

  1. ^ a b Inert ingredients in pesticide products. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Inert — In*ert , a. [L. iners, inertis, unskilled, idle; pref. in + ars art: cf. F. inerte. See {Art}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert. [1913 Webster] 2. Indisposed to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inert — INÉRT, Ă, inerţi, te, adj. 1. Nemişcat, fără viată, neînsufleţit. ♦ Inactiv din fire, lipsit de vigoare, de vioiciune, moale, molâu. 2. (fiz.; despre corpuri) Care are inerţie; (despre masa corpurilor) care se referă la inerţie. 3. (chim.; despre …   Dicționar Român

  • inert — [in ʉrt′] adj. [L iners, without skill or art, idle < in , not + ars (gen. artis), skill, ART3)] 1. having inertia; without power to move, act, or resist 2. tending to be physically or mentally inactive; dull; slow 3. having or exhibiting… …   English World dictionary

  • inert — index dead, dormant, idle, inactive, languid, lifeless (dull), otiose, phlegmatic …   Law dictionary

  • inert — inert* <aus gleichbed. lat. iners, Gen. inertis> (veraltet) untätig, träge; unbeteiligt; inerte Stoffe: reaktionsträge Stoffe, die sich an gewissen chem. Vorgängen nicht beteiligen (z. B. Edelgase; Chem.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • inert — • inert, trög, inaktiv, slapp, overksam …   Svensk synonymlexikon

  • inert — (adj.) 1640s, from Fr. inerte (16c.) or directly from L. inertem (nom. iners) unskilled, inactive, helpless, sluggish, worthless, from in without + ars (gen. artis) skill (see ART (Cf. art) (n.)). Originally of matter; specifically of gases from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • inert — inactive, passive, idle, supine Analogous words: lifeless, inanimate, *dead: impotent, *powerless: apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid Antonyms: dynamic: animated Contrasted words: *active, operative, live: alert, vigilant, *watchful …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • inert — [adj] not moving; lifeless apathetic, asleep, dead, dormant, down, dull, idle, immobile, impassive, impotent, inactive, inanimate, indolent, languid, languorous, lazy, leaden, listless, motionless, numb, paralyzed, passive, phlegmatic, powerless …   New thesaurus

  • inert — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lacking the ability or strength to move. 2) chemically inactive. DERIVATIVES inertly adverb inertness noun. ORIGIN Latin iners, unskilled, inactive , from in not + ars skill, art …   English terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”