Example of Inert Gases

In General Chemistry, a Inert gas is that substance in gaseous state what not able to participate in a chemical reaction, or it is very difficult for this to happen under normal conditions of Temperature and Pressure.

They are involved in this category, mainly, the element Nitrogen and the Noble Gases, which make up group VIII of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.

Nitrogen as Inert Gas

The first observation that characterizes the Nitrogen as an inert element, is that it is present in the air of the atmosphere by 79%, that is, a percentage that is a majority if we compare it with the participation of the other gases in the air mixture.

The other gases present in the atmosphere are Oxygen, with 20.9% of participation, and Argon, Helium, Greenhouse Gases such as Methane, Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide, gathering between all the remaining 0.1%.

Nitrogen and Oxygen gases in the atmosphere are found in a balanced and ideal proportion. Nitrogen is what buffers the presence of Oxygen. If the Oxygen were to exceed 20.9%, the Earth would burn with everything it contains, in a perfectly supplied combustion of the oxidizing Oxygen.

That is why it is important to take care of air quality, because any imbalance between Oxygen and Nitrogen can lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity.

In addition to atmospheric circumstances, Nitrogen is involved in combustion at very high temperatures. Conditions like these are difficult to come up with, but they exist. In these cases, Nitrogen can react with the Oxygen present, forming Nitrogen Oxides, or NOx, as they are represented.

Nitrogen It is used in the laboratory in liquid form as a refrigerant. Upon receiving the heat from the medium to be cooled, it becomes a gas again, releasing itself into the atmosphere naturally.

Noble Gases as Inert Gases

The Lack of Reactivity of Noble Gases it is because have eight electrons in their last shell and that makes them chemically stable. They have very varied applications thanks to this valuable property. For example, to complement operations in which there is a danger of combustion, or to carry out analyzes in which a gas is required to displace a sample, without the gas reacting with it.

The Helium, the smallest atom gas, is used as light gas to fill balloons for party, so that they keep floating. It is normally handled in cylindrical pressure tanks, supplying the balloons by narrow outlet valves. Because it is inert, there is no problem with leaks. It only rises to the atmosphere and there are no adverse effects.

The Neon, the next noble gas, is used in the illumination as a gas that, when receiving an electric current, emits an intense luminosity, which can be of different colors.

The Argon, third noble gas, is used in the food industry as an inert gas in canned beverages, to replace the oxygen that could begin to rot the beverage.

The Krypton It is used, like Neon, in illumination. Its luminosity has a color between red and orange, and is used in airports, in landing strips. It is also useful in flash for cameras, by the intensity of its light.

The Xenon is another of the gases used in illumination, in advanced headlights for cars, flash for cameras, lamps to kill bacteria.

The Radon it's a gas evolved from Pechblende, the mineral Uranium oxide. It is, therefore, a radioactive element, which will release alpha particles (equivalent to Helium Nuclei), until they degrade to become elements of smaller and smaller atoms. This process of decomposition of the Radon atom is called Radioactive Decay.

Examples of Inert Gases

Nitrogen gas (N₂)

Helium

Neon

Argon

Krypton

Xenon

Radon

Those are all gases classified as inert.