What is Inorganic Chemistry?
Introduction to the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds
Mar 22, 2007
Inorganic chemistry is the study of the reactions and properties of all the chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds (which are organic compounds). A look at the periodic table shows that this covers a lot of chemistry, but organic chemistry is so expansive that the disciplines are actually well balanced.
Groups and Periods
Inorganic chemistry covers an extremely wide range of chemicals and it is classified according to similar groups, periods and properties. So, for example, the compounds of elements in the same group or period of the periodic table are compared. This leads to the study of the reactions of the Alkali metals (group 1), or the study of the halogens (group 7).
Ions and Electochemistry
One aspect of many inorganic chemicals is the formation of ionic compounds. Ions are charged particles which combine with oppositely charged particles to form compounds. These include chemicals such as Sodium Chloride (table salt) and Ammonium Nitrate (fertilizer). As solids these compounds do not conduct electricity, but as solutions they do and can react when an electric current passes through them. Electrochemistry uses this phenomenon to synthesise certain important chemicals such as aluminium metal and also the principle is used in batteries.
Acid-Base Reactions
Another important area of inorganic chemistry is that of Acids and Bases. Acids are chemicals which have hydrogen ions (H+). Sulphuric Acid is an important industrial chemical which is produced in huge quantities worldwide. Bases accept hydrogen ions readily and lead to further important chemicals.
Transition Metals
The chemistry of the Transition elements, the central block in the periodic table, is vast and important. Many of these elements have large atoms and ions and are prone to form complex ions. A complex occurs when molecules that have weak charges (e.g. water or ammonia) surround a positively charged ion in solution. The resulting complex ion exhibits interesting reactions. This area of inorganic chemistry is called coordination chemistry.
Organometallic and Bioinorganic
The boundary between inorganic and organic chemistry is blurred in the disciplines of organometallic chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry. It is in these areas that important work is being done on treatments of diseases, catalysts and superconductors.
Group 4
One group of particular interest is group four. The elements in this group are carbon, silicon, germanium, tin and lead. In contrast to groups 1, 2 and 7, the properties of the elements in this group change from non-metallic to metallic as the group is descended. These elements, too, are important in the study of superconductors. Silicon is an important chemical, the main constituent of sand and glass and used in applications from breast implants to silly putty!
Inorganic Chemistry is an important branch of chemistry and there will be many interesting topic in this section.
