The inerting advantage of nitrogen over carbon dioxide is due to higher molar heat capacity.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not sure
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Inerting relies on reducing the oxygen concentration to suppress ignition, not on how much heat the gas can store. The relevant factors are how effectively the gas dilutes the oxygen and how it behaves in the space (how it mixes and distributes). Nitrogen does not have a higher molar heat capacity than carbon dioxide; in fact, CO2 has a higher molar heat capacity at room temperature. Therefore, the idea that nitrogen’s inerting advantage comes from a higher molar heat capacity isn’t correct. The practical advantage of nitrogen comes from its chemical inertness, availability, and how it dilutes oxygen reliably, rather than from heat-storage properties.