Inert Gases

[Susanna Givan 2B]

What defines an inert gas? How does it differ from other gases?

[Lucy Wang 2J]

an inert gas is just a gas that does not react in the reaction

[Hazelle Gunawan 3G]

An inert gas is another name for noble gas, if I remember correctly! They aren't part of the equilibrium reactions so their presence doesn't really change anything.

[Savana Maxfield 3F]

Yep, inert gases do not undergo chemical reactions under certain conditions.

[Sarah Salam 1J]

They're noble gases! And they're different because they don't react, so they aren't affecting the equilibrium reaction like other gases would.

[SamayaJoshi1A]

Why are inert gases only noble gases? Is there a reason these noble gases are the only type of gases that go through the equations where inert gases are present? I am a bit confused.

[annabelchen2a]

Why are inert gases only noble gases? Is there a reason these noble gases are the only type of gases that go through the equations where inert gases are present? I am a bit confused.

Noble gases (group 18) have filled valence shells/octets (and therefore very high ionization energies) that make them very nonreactive. Inert gases don't undergo chemical reactions under a set of given conditions. The noble gases were previously referred to as inert gases, but this term isn't completely accurate because some of them do take part in chemical reactions (For example, Xe is able to form compounds with fluoride and oxide).

I'm not exactly sure what you mean be "type of gases that go through the equations where inert gases are present" so maybe someone else can help you out with that? But I hope my explanation helped a little bit!

[Jaden Haskins 2E]

Why are inert gases only noble gases? Is there a reason these noble gases are the only type of gases that go through the equations where inert gases are present? I am a bit confused.

It is only inert/noble gases that do not change the equilibrium based on Anna's explanation. Any other gas that is put into the reaction does not have that full valence shell, and so the adding the non-inert gas will increase the concentration of the reactants and therefore cause the equilibrium to shift.