Inert 200907 224316719 2008-07-08T09:00:49Z 77.163.231.170 {{Unreferenced|date=September 2007}} 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 gas]]es were described as being inert because they did not [[reaction|react]] with the other [[chemical element|elements]] or themselves. It is now understood that the reason that [[inert gas]]es are completely inert to basic [[chemical reaction]]s (such as [[combustion]], for example), is because 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, [[Nitrogen|elemental nitrogen]] is inert under standard room conditions and exists as a [[diatomic]] molecule, N<sub>2</sub>. The inertness of nitrogen is due to the presence of the very strong triple [[covalent bond]] in the N<sub>2</sub> 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. This 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 [[splitting of prime ideals in Galois extensions|split]] as a product of other prime ideals, but by being inert it remains essentially unchanged. ==Munitions== In the area of [[weapon|weapons]], an inert [[munition]] is one in which all energetic material such as [[Percussion cap|primer]], [[fuze]], and [[explosive]] or [[Incendiary device|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]]. [[Category:Chemical properties]] [[ar:خامل]] [[bar:Inert]] [[cs:Inertní]] [[de:Inerte Substanz]] [[et:Inertsus (keemia)]] [[fr:Inerte]] [[nl:Inertie (chemie)]] [[simple:Inert]] [[fi:Inertti]]