Question

Noble gases are sometimes called "inert gases." What can you infer about the meaning of the word "inert" in chemistry?

Answer 1

Outer electron shell full, does not want to give up, gain, or share electrons, stands alone in its nobility and is extremely reluctant to play chemistry with anything even another of its own kind. For example H is usually H2 molecule but He, helium, full inner shell, is just He molecule. You can have H2O, water, but not He anything.