Cambridge Secondary (7-9). Stage 8. MCE Science. Workbook - Unit 6: Chemical Reactivity - Question 27

The hull of a ship is the part that sits in the sea. Shipbuilders often use a metal for making the hull as it is strong. But some metals corrode in the seawater, and they become thinner. To overcome this problem, shipbuilders put a protective layer between the metal and the seawater. They use something called an antifouling paint. The key ingredient in this paint is copper oxide, which gives the paint a red colour.

An inert substance is one that does not react with any other substances. Is it correct to say that copper oxide is inert? Explain your answer.