The inert atmosphere used may be argon or nitrogen gas, except for lithium, which reacts with nitrogen.
ðɪ ɪnˈɜːt ˈætməsfˌɪɹ jˈuːzd mˈeɪ biː ˈɑːɹɡɑːn ɔːɹ nˈaɪtɹədʒən ɡˈæs, ɛksˈɛpt fɔːɹ lˈɪθiəm, wˌɪtʃ ɹɪˈækts wɪð nˈaɪtɹədʒən.