Key Differences Between Inorganic and Organic Compounds
Do you know the Inorganic Compounds Definition?
An inorganic compound is any substance in which two or more chemical elements (usually other than carbon) are combined in definite proportions. If carbon is bound to colourless hydrogen, the compound is known as organic. Inorganic carbon compounds include carbides (such as silicon carbide [SiC2]), carbonates (such as calcium carbonate [CaCO<3]), cyanides (such as sodium cyanide [NaCN]), graphite, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.
In this article, we will study inorganic compounds, inorganic chemicals, and inorganic benzene( borazine) in detail.
Inorganic Chemicals
Ionic compounds are made up of cations and anions that are bound together by ionic bonds. Magnesium chloride MgCl2, which contains magnesium cations Mg2+ and chloride anions Cl, and sodium oxide Na2O, which contains sodium cations Na+ and oxide anions O2, are examples of salts (ionic compounds). The proportions of the ions in any salt are such that the electric charges cancel out, resulting in an electrically neutral bulk compound. The parent elements' ionization potential (for cations) or electron affinity (for anions) can be used to determine the ions' oxidation state, as well as their ease of formation.
The simplest inorganic reaction is double displacement, which occurs when two salts are mixed and the ions are exchanged without the oxidation state changing. In redox reactions, one reactant, the oxidant, reduces its oxidation state while the oxidation state of another reactant, the reductant, increases. The end product is an electron exchange. Electron exchange may also take place in an indirect way, such as in batteries, and is a central principle in electrochemistry.
Borazine
Borazine is a polar inorganic compound with the formula B3H6N3. The three BH units and three NH units alternate in this cyclic compound. For benzene, the compound is isoelectronic and structurally identical. Borazine is often referred to as "inorganic benzene" because of this. Borazine, like benzene, is a colourless liquid. Borazine is a transparent liquid with a good fragrance.
Inorganic Acid
Inorganic acids, also known as mineral acids, are acids derived from one or more inorganic compounds and contain no carbon. These inorganic acids are either oxoacids or have no oxygen. They are either mono-, di-, or tribasic depending on the number of hydrogen atoms in them. Monobasic acids like hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid, as well as dibasic acids like hydrogen sulfide, are examples of acids without oxygen. Nitric acid (monobasic), sulfuric acid (dibasic), and orthophosphoric acid are all oxygen-containing acids (tribasic). When inorganic acids are dissolved in water, hydrogen ions and conjugate base ions are formed.
Inorganic Phosphate
An inorganic phosphate (PO43-) is a metal-ion salt of phosphoric acid. In a tetrahedral structure, one central phosphorus atom is surrounded by four oxygen atoms. Inorganic phosphates can be present in a number of ways in nature, and they are often mixed with other elements (e.g., metals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and aluminium). Inorganic phosphates are found in all living organisms and are essential for their survival. In an aqueous solution, inorganic phosphate occurs mainly as H2PO4- or HPO42-, and it acts as a buffer.
Dipotassium Hydrogen Phosphate
The inorganic compound K2HPO4.(H2O) x (x = 0,3,6) is dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4) (also dipotassium hydrogen orthophosphate; potassium phosphate dibasic). It's widely used as a fertilizer, food additive, and buffering agent in combination with monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4.(H2O)x. It is soluble in water white or colourless solid.
It's made by partially neutralizing phosphoric acid with two equivalents of potassium chloride in a commercial environment.
Dipotassium phosphate is used in imitation dairy creamers, dry powder drinks, mineral supplements, and starter cultures as a food additive. It acts as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and texturizer, as well as a buffering and chelating agent, especially for calcium in dairy products.
Inorganic Salts
Salt is a neutral ionic compound formed by the chemical reaction of an acid and a base, or by neutralization. Salts are formed when ions are bound together by an ionic bond and dissociate into ions (other than H+ or OH–) when dissolved in a solvent such as water.
In contrast to an organic salt, which contains C-H bonds, an inorganic salt does not contain C-H bonds. Sodium chloride, a chemical compound made up of sodium and chloride ions are one of the most well-known salts.
Inorganic salts are needed for living things to survive and grow. Sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and calcium phosphate (Ca3P) are some of the most common inorganic salts in humans for a variety of bodily functions (PO4)2. In liquids, inorganic salts dissociate into ions (or electrolytes). These ions are needed for a variety of cellular metabolic processes. For example, sodium chloride (NaCl) splits into sodium and chloride ions.
Sodium ions, in particular, are needed for the depolarization of neurons and muscle cells, and thus for the transmission of impulses and the contraction of muscles.
Did You Know?
Borazine is often referred to as "inorganic benzene" because it is isoelectronic with benzene and has similar connectivity. Because of the electronegativity disparity between boron and nitrogen, this analogy is not rigorously true. The bond lengths within the borazine ring are all equal at 1.429, a property shared by benzene, according to X-ray crystallographic structural determinations. The borazine ring, on the other hand, does not shape a perfect hexagon. The boron atoms have a bond angle of 117.1°, while the nitrogen atoms have a bond angle of 122.9°, making the molecule distinct symmetry.
FAQs on What Are Inorganic Compounds?
1. What are inorganic compounds according to the CBSE syllabus for Chemistry?
In chemistry, an inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen (C-H) bonds. These compounds are generally not of biological origin and are often found in nature as minerals. The study of these compounds falls under inorganic chemistry and includes substances like salts, metals, acids, bases, and substances made from single elements.
2. What is the main difference between organic and inorganic compounds?
The primary difference lies in their chemical composition. Organic compounds are defined by the presence of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, and they form the basis of life. In contrast, inorganic compounds typically do not contain C-H bonds. Other general differences include:
- Bonding: Inorganic compounds often have ionic bonds, while organic compounds primarily have covalent bonds.
- Solubility: Many inorganic compounds are soluble in water, whereas organic compounds are often more soluble in organic solvents.
- Complexity: Organic molecules can be extremely large and complex (e.g., DNA), while inorganic molecules are generally simpler in structure.
3. Can you provide some common examples of inorganic compounds used in daily life?
Yes, many everyday substances are inorganic compounds. Key examples include:
- Water (H₂O): The most essential inorganic compound for life.
- Table Salt (NaCl): A crystalline ionic compound used for seasoning food.
- Baking Soda (NaHCO₃): Sodium bicarbonate, used in cooking and cleaning.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): A gas we exhale, used in carbonated drinks.
- Ammonia (NH₃): Used in many cleaning products and fertilisers.
- Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄): Used in car batteries and industrial processes.
4. Why is carbon dioxide (CO₂) classified as an inorganic compound if it contains carbon?
This is a common point of confusion. While carbon dioxide contains a carbon atom, it is classified as inorganic because it lacks carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds. The defining characteristic of an organic compound is not just the presence of carbon, but its ability to form stable bonds with hydrogen. Compounds like carbonates (e.g., CaCO₃), cyanides (e.g., KCN), and oxides of carbon (CO, CO₂) are considered exceptions and are studied under inorganic chemistry.
5. How is water (H₂O) an inorganic compound when it is so vital for all living (organic) beings?
The classification of a compound as organic or inorganic is based on its chemical structure, not its biological role. Water's chemical formula is H₂O. It consists of hydrogen and oxygen atoms but contains no carbon atom at all. Since it is impossible for it to have a carbon-hydrogen bond, it fits the definition of an inorganic compound perfectly, despite its critical importance in biological systems.
6. What is the general importance and scope of studying inorganic compounds?
The study of inorganic compounds is fundamental to nearly every scientific and industrial field. Its importance includes:
- Industrial Catalysis: Many industrial processes, like the Haber-Bosch process for making ammonia (an inorganic compound), rely on inorganic catalysts.
- Materials Science: The development of semiconductors, ceramics, pigments, and alloys is based on the properties of inorganic materials.
- Medicine: Inorganic compounds are used in treatments, such as cisplatin in chemotherapy and lithium carbonate for mental health conditions.
- Environmental Science: Understanding the chemistry of minerals, soil, and water pollution involves inorganic chemistry.
7. Are all compounds that do not have a carbon atom automatically inorganic?
Yes, any compound that does not contain a carbon atom is, by definition, an inorganic compound. The distinction primarily exists to separate the vast field of carbon-based chemistry (organic chemistry) from the chemistry of all other elements. Therefore, compounds like water (H₂O), ammonia (NH₃), and hydrochloric acid (HCl) are classic examples of inorganic compounds because they lack carbon entirely.
