Which term refers to all other ingredients besides the active ingredient?

• A. Inert Ingredients
• B. Active Ingredient
• C. Biopesticides
• D. Biochemical Pesticides

Answer: (A)

In pesticide formulations, the thing that comprises everything besides the component that actually kills or controls the pest is the inert ingredients. These are carriers, solvents, surfactants, emulsifiers, adjuvants, dyes, and other additives that help with mixing, spraying, stability, coverage, and adhesion, but they’re not intended to have any pesticidal effect themselves. The active ingredient is the part that provides control of the target pest. Biopesticides and biochemical pesticides refer to categories of products whose effects come from natural or biological agents, not the non-active components of a formulation, so they don’t describe the rest of the formulation.