A glovebox is a space filled with an inert gas, such as argon, to perform highly air sensitive reactions.
A chemical is called inert (literally: willoos, slow) if it does not or hardly react with almost all other chemicals. The inert substances are often called noble gases and precious metals. Applications
Nitrogen gas and argon hardly react under normal conditions and are widely used to cover or enclose substances that would otherwise react with oxygen or moisture. This is termed working in an inert atmosphere. Above acid solutions (moisture is no problem, oxygen sometimes), this can also be achieved using CO2. In laboratories where organic synthesis is practiced, argon is more preferred because that gas is heavier than air and, as it were, forms a shielding layer above the reaction mixture.
The chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are also quite inert and were therefore widely used as propellant and blowing agent. Also the chemical compound sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is an inert gas. Also see
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