A Quick Look at the Many Advantages of Inert Polymers
A substance that's
“chemically inert” means it won't react to anything. You can
leave a chemically inert plastic out in the sun, douse it with water,
or pour acid on it. You won't get a nudge out of it.
Being inert is important for
essential
substances such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), known to the
world simply as Teflon. Generally, it means PTFE can be used in a
wide array of situations sans risk of a chemical reaction that may
pose a health or safety threat. The bond of carbon and fluorine atoms
is strong enough to shrug off anything that comes their way.
On an atomic point of view,
the secret for inert of substances lies in the outer shells. Case in
point: noble gases; their outer shells have the right amount of
electrons, which is 8 (save for helium, with 2). As these gases have
the right amount of electrons, there's no more reason for them to
gain or lose some. In addition, inert substances themselves don't
participate in any chemical reaction.
This is good news for
industries that will be using inert substances. Handling chemicals
has always been an edgy job requiring nerves of steel to make sure
you don't drop that vial of volatile compounds. Substances like PTFE
were chosen to assume various duties that commonly come in contact
with a variety of compounds and other substances.
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