Inert Gas

An inert gas is a gas that is generally non-reactive with other substances. Unlike noble gases, an inert gas is not necessarily elemental and is often a compound gas. Noble gases were historically referred to as the inert gases, although noble gasses may reach under certain chemical reactions. Each of the seven chemical elements that make up Group 18 of the periodic table are defined as noble gasses. These elements include;

• helium (He, 2);
• neon (Ne, 10);
• argon (Ar, 18);
• krypton (Kr, 36);
• xenon (Xe, 54);
• radon (Rn, 86); and
• oganesson (Og, 115).

Inert gases are used generally as a barrier or shield to unwanted chemical reactions, that involves oxidation.