ABSTRACT
Only a small portion of chemicals in a herbicide product are responsible for controlling weeds. These active ingredients are usually diluted in inert (inactive) materials such as petroleum solvents, emulsifiers, powders, or granules. Inert materials change the characteristics of the active ingredients in many ways, for example, they may make them safer, easier to apply, and/or more convenient to handle. The mixture of active and inert ingredients is called a herbicide formulation. Inert materials may include chemicals such as wetting agents, spreaders, stickers, and extenders, all of which improve the effectiveness of an active ingredient.
