The water in your drinking bottle, the oxygen in the air, the salt on your fries – these are all examples of inorganic compounds. Inorganic matter has been around for as long as the earth has existed, which is about five billion years. Back then, the planet was still an uncomfortable fireball that no one would want to live on voluntarily.
Over time, however, it cooled, allowing bulging oceans to form. With the abundance of water – probably the most important inorganic substance – life also arose over time. To do this, hydrocarbons had to be created, which living beings can convert into many different shapes and lengths.
This is where the boundary between inorganic and organic chemistry is drawn. While organic chemistry deals with substances that consist of hydrocarbon chains, the task lies with the inorganic chemistry in it, the inanimate to explore nature.
General and Inorganic Chemistry: Summary
So much for the demarcation of inorganic chemistry (also inorganics), but what actually is general chemistry? The terms are often used interchangeably because they both form the basis for all other subtopics. In fact, there is no precise demarcation between these two subject areas.
However, you can remember that for general chemistry topics like this periodic table and the chemical bond be counted. Then: the study of elements and compounds is important for all branches of chemistry.
Periodic Table of the Elements
That periodic table of the elements (PSE for short) is by far the most important tool in inorganic chemistry. Researchers allow that periodic table roughly predict why elements react, what bonds the elements are likely to form, and how stable the resulting compounds will be.
In this study set from inorganic chemistry you will learn everything from the structure of the atoms to the structure of the periodic table with groups and periods to the elements of the individual main groups. Please take a look at the relevant explanation.
chemical bonds
Have you always wondered why materials stick together or why some materials are flexible and others are brittle? All of this can be done chemical bonds to explain! On you will learn everything about the Primary Bondswhich describe the bonds in the molecule and you will find out what a secondary bond is.
If you are interested in ionic bonding, metallic bonding, or covalent bonding, this subset of inorganic chemistry is for you.
Inorganic Substances you usually recognize that they no hydrocarbon chains contain.
This definition of inorganic chemistry doesn’t necessarily narrow the choices, you might be thinking. After all, all you need to do is take a look periodic table throw to realize that there must be a whole range of different inorganic substances corresponding to the many other elements. You are of course absolutely correct in this assumption. Therefore, in this section you will read about the most important groups of substances in inorganic chemistry and what exceptions there are.
Special case: Inorganic carbon compounds
Although carbon compounds are generally referred to as organics, there are a few important exceptions that belong to inorganic chemistry. These carbon compounds are considered inorganics because they are either structurally similar to other inorganic compounds or are not based on life force-generated matter. These are the most important inorganic carbon compounds:
- Hydrogen-free compounds of carbon with the chalcogens (6th main group)
- eg carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide
- carbonic acid and their salts, the carbonates
- carbides
- e.g. tungsten carbide (WC), which is used in ballpoint pen refills
- Ionic cyanides, cyanates and thiocyanates
- hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a borderline case between inorganic and organic chemistry
- Organometallic compounds contain metal atoms and hydrocarbon compounds at the same time
metals and alloys
About three quarters of the elements in the periodic table are metals. This group of substances in inorganic chemistry is characterized by the fact that the atoms in this category are so-called metallic bonds (metal bonds) can enter. With this type of bonding, the individual metal atoms arrange themselves closely together, so that ordered crystal structures develop. The electrons in metals move freely through the entire crystal, which explains, among other things, the good electrical conductivity of this group of inorganic chemistry substances.
Examples of metals are copper and tin. Incidentally, a mixture of these two metals is called bronze – a so-called Alloy. If you look at the periodic table, you will immediately notice the lowered block in the middle. These are the so-called transition metals. But also the elements of the first main group (alkaline metals) and those of the second (alkaline earth metals) are among the metals.
If you want to read more about the topics of metallic bonding or alloys, you are welcome to take a look at the corresponding explanations from inorganic chemistry.
salts and minerals
Salts are made up of oppositely charged ions. The positively charged ion (cation) is usually a metal atom that has lost one or more electrons. As a negatively charged ion (anion) can serve, for example, a halogen atom that carries one electron too many. Together, these oppositely charged ions form an ionic bond. About 90% of all naturally occurring minerals also have an ionic bond.
You already know a salt from inorganic chemistry that is vital for humans from the kitchen: sodium chloride (NaCl, common salt).
Minerals are chemical elements and compounds that are naturally formed in the earth’s rock strata. Not all minerals can be assigned to inorganic chemistry, since some consist partly of organic material. However, the most common mineral group is feldsparwhich includes many different inorganic silicate minerals.
If you want to learn more about the nature of salts and minerals, read the explanations from inorganic chemistry on the topics of rocks and ionic bonding.
acids and bases
Acids and bases are characterized by their ability to transfer positively charged hydrogen ions (H+). Because H+ ions do not have electrons, they are often referred to as protons designated. In an aqueous solution, acids are able to donate these protons and are therefore called proton donors. Bases are substances that accept protons – they are also known as proton acceptors.
Among the classic acids of inorganic chemistry we like hydrochloric acid (HCl) as an example. With the base sodium hydroxide (NaOH), water and sodium chloride are formed in an acid-base reaction, as you can see from this reaction equation:
If you want to learn more about this topic from inorganic chemistry, check out the detailed explanation acid base reaction.
non-metal compounds
There is a large number of inorganic non-metal compounds in which the atoms covalent bonds to be held together. This type of bond is characterized by the fact that the atoms involved have at least one electron pair share. The electrons stay between the two atomic nuclei without one of the atoms exerting such a strong attraction that the bond would break.
If the atoms share a pair of electrons, it is a single bond, like that between oxygen and hydrogen in water (H2O) occurs. For molecules such as nitrous oxide (N2O), up to three bonds are sometimes possible, involving a total of three pairs of electrons.
In the explanation of covalent bonds from inorganic chemistry, you will learn more about this exciting topic. You can also learn more about why electrons can spread over several atoms in the explanation of mesomerism.
complex chemistry
Complexes consist of one central particle and at least one ligands. The central particle is usually a positively charged metal ion. The ligands each provide at least one lone pair of electrons for a coordinate bond to disposal. In this way, geometric structures are formed, which in many cases show a characteristic color in aqueous solution.
Have you ever observed the reaction of copper sulfate (CuSO4) with water and wondered where the beautiful blue color comes from? The color comes from the 2+ complex that is formed:
Take a look at the large area of complex chemistry in the inorganic chemistry section. With the structure of complexes, the nomenclature of anionic, cationic and neutral complexes as well as the color of complexes, you will find everything you need to know here. If the subject of complex chemistry persists, you can quench your thirst for knowledge with the explanation of the ligand field theory.
Nomenclature in inorganic chemistry
Have you ever wondered who gives the names for chemical compounds in inorganic chemistry? In fact, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) drafted specific rules for naming chemical compounds. This so-called IUPAC nomenclature is intended to facilitate communication between chemists around the world. Above all, it helps you to better classify all the chemical compounds that you get to know in the course of your life and to estimate their reactivity.
molecular formulas
First of all, look at the molecular formulas in inorganic chemistry. Perhaps you have already noticed that in compounds such as table salt (NaCl), the halogen ion is always at the back – this is no coincidence, but intentional. The reason for this arrangement is the higher electronegativity of chlorine. So you can remember as a rule that the atoms in a molecular formula are sorted according to increasing electronegativity.
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom’s ability to attract electrons to the nucleus. The higher the electronegativity, the easier it is for an atom to attract electrons compared to others. You can find more about this in the explanation of electronegativity from inorganic chemistry.
Examples to which this rule applies are, in addition to NaCl, aluminum oxide (Al2O3), silver chloride (AgCl) or phosphorus pentafluoride (PF5).
Special case: hydrogen
Of course, a rule is nothing without a few exceptions. Despite its low electronegativity, hydrogen always comes last. Examples of compounds that fall within this case include: Ammonia (NH3) and Silane (SiH4).
But here, too, there is an exception – annoying, but it doesn’t get boring in inorganic chemistry that quickly. In the case of compounds that are acidic in aqueous solutions, hydrogen always comes first. This way you always see…