why does a salt bridge have inert electrolytes? what are inert electrolytes?

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Solution

The function of salt bridge is :
to allow flow of current by completing the circuit.
to maintain electrical neutrality.
The salt bridge contains inert electrolytes, because the cell potential is dependant on the concentration of the ionic species in the electrolyte, if the salt bridge does not contain inert electrolyte then, the cell potential will be affected as the components of electrolyte in the salt bridge will react with other ionic species and alter the cell potential by interferring in the cell reaction, also the salt bridge then, will no longer be able to maintain the electrical neutrality.
The inert electrolytes are those electrolytes, which:
do not react chemically with the electrolyte present in either of the half-cell.
does not interfere with the net cell reaction.

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Assertion : Salts like $K C l, K N O_{3}$ i.e., inert electrolytes are used in salt bridge.

Reason : An inert electrolyte can easily be filled in the U-tube.

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K N O_{3}

Assertion : Salts like $K C l, K N O_{3}$ i.e., inert electrolytes are used in salt bridge.

Reason : An inert electrolyte can easily be filled in the U-tube.

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