What Is Inorganic Chemistry?
Inorganic chemistry studies the properties and reactions of inorganic elements and compounds that exist naturally in the earth and do not contain a carbon-hydrogen bond. Inorganics such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, minerals, and water are necessary to sustain life.
What is the Difference Between Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry?
While inorganic chemistry is concerned with elements and compounds that do not contain a carbon-hydrogen bond, organic chemistry is the study of elements and compounds that do contain a carbon-hydrogen bond. The two fields can also overlap in compounds that contain a metal bonded directly to carbon, such as organometallic compounds.
Examples of Inorganic Compounds and Elements:
- Table salt or sodium chloride
- Carbon dioxide
- Diamond (pure carbon)
- Silver
- Sulfur
- Oxides
- Sulfates
- Phosphates
- Chlorides
- Fluorides
- Nitrites
- Nitrates
- Bromides
- All elements on The Periodic Table except carbon-bonded elements
Examples of Organic Compounds and Elements:
- DNA
- Table sugar or sucrose
- Benzene
- Methane
- Ethanol or grain alcohol
- Carbon (when bound to hydrogen)
Examples of compounds with overlapped organic and inorganic elements are metals or metalloids bonded directly to carbon:
- Boron
- Silicon
- Germanium
- Tellurium
- Arsenic
- Antimony
- Hydrogen
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
What Significance (Other Than Sustaining All Living Things) Does Inorganic Chemistry Have to Human Existence?
Metals
Inorganic metals are so important to civilization that the ages of human existence are named after the metal most used during that period, beginning with The Bronze Age (3300 B.C. – 1200 B.C.). Metals are used in countless everyday items such as vehicles, machinery, tools, weapons, cookware, and all electronics including cell phones, computers, and televisions. While a few metals are found in their pure forms, most are found in silicates and oxides from which the metals must be isolated from the minerals.
Pigments
Another early example of inorganic chemicals used in society is the deep blue pigment called Prussian blue, which consists of iron cations, cyanide anions, and water. The name originated in the 18th century when the compound was used to dye the coats for the Prussian army. The pigment has had other names over the centuries as well as many other uses, such as:
- Paints, inks, and enamels
- Textiles, rubber, and plastics
- Antidote for heavy-metal poisoning
- Histopathology stain for detecting iron
- Typewriter ribbons and carbon paper
Even though this important pigment contains cyanide groups, it is not toxic to humans. Other permanent colorants (pigments) are inorganics used for specific purposes in daily life. Iron oxides have a variety of red hues that are most notably used in bricks, and chromium oxides provide the green hues for military vehicle paint. Titanium dioxide is the base of almost all interior paints because of its exceptional whiteness and opacity. Even the pigments in makeup are commonly purified inorganic compounds. Noah Chemicals provides inorganic elements necessary for your pigment needs.
Vitamins
Vitamins are a mixture of inorganic and organic compounds. Inorganic compounds in vitamins include calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, potassium chloride, vanadyl sulfate and copper sulfate. Noah Chemicals provides these and other necessary inorganic products to the nutraceutical industry.
Contact Noah Chemicals for your Inorganic Chemical Requirements
For more information about Noah Chemicals and Noah Chemicals Services for your inorganic chemical or inorganic chemical service needs, please contact Noah Chemicals here or call (888) 291-1186.
