why is nitrogen inert??

Answer 1

It is and it isn't, it all depends on your perspective. As the first answerer said, there are far more inert gases--helium, neon, etc. Then again, people have made complexes of xenon and krypton, so the question is "how inert is inert?" Nitrogen can be made to react, bacteria do this all the time at regular soil conditions, but for people to do it we require pretty extreme conditions (look up the Born-Haber process for making ammonia on wikipedia).

Usually double and triple bonds are not very stable (because the p orbitals that make up the double and triple bonds don't point towards each other and have poorer overlap), but in the case of nitrogen, it's high electronegativity means that it can stabilize those electrons very well, and therefore those bonds are difficult to break like the second answerer said. But you could say "oxygen has a higher electronegativity and only one double bond to stabilize but it's still really reactive, it burns things." And you'd be totally right. I can tell you there is not an obvious and simple answer for it, but when something like nitrogen makes up 80% of the atmosphere, it's obviously pretty inert, because otherwise it would have reacted to form something else. It's a tautological argument, but it's still true.

Regardless, one thing that you should know is that these simplest of questions are sometimes the hardest, and your question almost borders on philosophy. So good thinking!

Answer 2

Is Nitrogen Inert

Answer 3

inertness mean element found its own free state like helium,neon,argon,krypton and radon which all are inert gases in atmosphere these gases react with few compound.
nitrogen is not truely inert gas.but due to his triple bond with another nitrogen atom.it is most satable and found in atmosphere round about 80% in nitrogen form.that is why it is assume a inert gas .

Answer 4

Nitrogen isn't inert, it will react with other substances but, in industry, pipelines, vessels, towers and other equipment are purged with nitrogen to remove flammable and noxious gases to a flare system before admitting air, to allow entry for maintenance purposes.
The process is called 'Inerting'.
When the job is completed, 'inerting' is again carried out with nitrogen to remove the air before admitting flammable gases that will give a fuel/air mixture in the equipment causing fire or explosion hazards.

Answer 5

Nitrogen as a gas is under the formula N2 with a triple bound between the 2 atoms of N. This bound is difficult to brake and so the molecule N2 is rather inert

Answer 6

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Nitrogen doesn't remain in mono-atomic state. It always remains as N2. So di-nitrogen is inert due to the triple bond between them but not mono-atomic nitrogen.

Answer 7

It isn't.

The only gases that are inert are helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. otherwise known as the Noble Gases.