Inorganic compounds

Inorganic compounds are substances that do not contain both carbon and hydrogen. A great many inorganic compounds do contain hydrogen atoms, such as water (H2O) and the hydrochloric acid (HCl) produced by your stomach. In contrast, only a handful of inorganic compounds contain carbon atoms.

Classification

Inorganic compounds can be classified based on their chemical behavior. One broad classification is into acids, bases, and salts.

Acids

An acid is a substance that can donate a hydrogen ion (H+) to another substance. Common examples of inorganic acids include sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid (HNO3).

Bases

A base is a substance that can accept a hydrogen ion from another substance. Common examples of inorganic bases include sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).

Salts

A salt is a substance formed when the hydrogen ions of an acid are replaced by metal ions or by radicals which are groups of atoms acting as single atoms. Common examples of inorganic salts include sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

Properties

Inorganic compounds are typically solid at room temperature, have high melting points, and are good conductors of electricity, which makes them useful in electronics. They are also often very colorful, due to the way their electrons absorb light, and this makes them useful in things like gemstones and pigments.

Uses

Inorganic compounds are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, they are used in the production of fertilizers, pigments, dyes, and drugs. They are also used in the production of a wide variety of materials, such as ceramics, glasses, and plastics.

See also

• Organic compound
• Bioinorganic chemistry
• Coordination compound
• Organometallic compound