Inorganic compound 363442 219049575 2008-06-13T10:02:56Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[lmo:Cumpòost inurgànich]] {{Main article|inorganic chemistry}} Traditionally, '''inorganic compounds''' are considered to be of mineral, not biological, origin. Complementarily, most organic compounds are traditionally viewed as being of biological origin. Over the past century, the precise classification of inorganic vs organic compounds has become less important to scientists, primarily because the majority of known compounds are synthetic and not of natural origin. Furthermore, most compounds considered the purview of modern inorganic chemistry contain organic [[ligand]]s. The fields of [[organometallic chemistry]] and [[bioinorganic chemistry]] explicitly focus on the areas between the fields of organic, biological, and inorganic chemistry. Inorganic compounds can be formally defined with reference to what they are not—organic compounds. [[Organic compound]]s are those which contain carbon, although some carbon-containing compounds are traditionally considered inorganic. When considering inorganic chemistry and life, it is useful to recall that many species in nature are not compounds per se but are [[ion]]s. [[Sodium]], [[chloride]], and [[phosphate]] [[ion]]s are essential for life, as are some inorganic molecules such as [[carbonic acid]], [[nitrogen]], [[carbon dioxide]], [[water]] and [[oxygen]]. Aside from these simple ions and molecules, virtually all species covered by bioinorganic chemistry contain carbon and can be considered organic or organometallic. ==Inorganic carbon compounds== Many compounds that contain carbon are considered inorganic; for example, [[carbon monoxide]], [[carbon dioxide]], [[carbonate]]s, [[cyanide]]s, [[cyanate]]s, [[carbide]]s, and [[thyocyanate]]s. In general, however, workers in these areas are not concerned about strict definitions. ==Coordination chemistry== A large class of compounds discussed in inorganic chemistry textbooks are [[coordination compound]]s. Examples range from species that are strictly inorganic, such as [[Cobalt(III) hexammine chloride|[Co(NH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>]Cl<sub>3</sub>]], to organometallic compounds such as [[ferrocene|Fe(C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>5</sub>)<sub>2</sub>]] and extending to bioinorganic compounds, such as the [[hydrogenase]] enzymes. ==Minerology== [[Mineral]]s are mainly [[oxide]]s and [[sulfide]]s, which are strictly inorganic. In fact, most of the earth and the universe is inorganic. Although the components of the earth's crust are well elucidated, the processes of mineralization and the composition of the deep [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]] remain active areas of investigation, which are mainly covered in geology-oriented venues. ==Inorganic compounds and materials science== Major classes of inorganic compound are studied and developed by chemists trained in [[materials science]]. Species of interest tend to be polymeric (non-molecular) and [[refractory]], and often such materials are of commercial interest. In general these inorganic compounds are classified based on their bulk properties, not their composition or structure: * [[Alloys]], such [[brass]], [[bronze]], and [[stainless steel]] * [[Semiconductor]]s such as [[silicon]] and [[gallium arsenide]] * [[superconductors]] such as [[yttrium barium copper oxide]] ==See also== * [[List of inorganic compounds]] * [[Inorganic compounds by element]] * [[organic compound]] [[Category:Inorganic compounds|*]] [[cs:Anorganická sloučenina]] [[el:Ανόργανη ένωση]] [[es:Compuesto inorgánico]] [[gl:Composto inorgánico]] [[ko:무기 화합물]] [[it:Composto inorganico]] [[he:תרכובת אי-אורגנית]] [[lt:Neorganinis junginys]] [[lmo:Cumpòost inurgànich]] [[nl:Anorganische verbindingen]] [[ja:無機化合物]] [[nn:Uorganiske sambindingar]] [[pl:Związki nieorganiczne]] [[pt:Composto inorgânico]] [[ru:Неорганические соединения]] [[simple:Inorganic compound]] [[sk:Anorganická zlúčenina]] [[fi:Epäorgaaninen yhdiste]] [[th:สารประกอบอนินทรีย์]] [[uk:Неорганічні сполуки]] [[zh:无机化合物]]