Inorganic chemistry deals with non-biological compounds without hydrogen and carbon bonds. Organic chemistry involves carbon-based reactions. Inorganic and organic chemistry can overlap, and there are many branches of inorganic chemistry, including geochemistry, physical chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry. Inorganic chemistry has many applications in various industries.
Inorganic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the properties and behavior of inorganic compounds. Inorganic compounds are generally those that are non-biological and characterized by not containing any hydrogen and carbon bonds. It’s almost easier to discuss this field in terms of what it isn’t: organic chemistry. Organic chemistry is the study of any chemical reaction involving carbon, which is the element on which all life is based.
The term “organic” traditionally refers only to animal or plant matter, so there is a common misconception that organic chemistry always refers to life processes, or that inorganic chemistry applies to anything that does not. This assumption is inaccurate. Many chemical processes depart from this line of thinking, and there are many chemical life processes that depend on inorganic chemical processes.
There are exceptions to every rule. Although carbon is the main common element in organic chemistry, inorganic chemical compounds can also contain carbon. For example, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide both contain carbon, but are inorganic compounds. Carbon dioxide, in particular, is also very important for the chemical processes necessary for life, especially for plant life. The truth is, the lines between inorganic and organic chemistry are often blurred.
There are many branches of inorganic chemistry available for specialization. Geochemistry is the study of the chemicals of the Earth and other planets and covers the chemical compositions of rocks and soils. Within the field of geochemistry, there are several subfields, including isotope geochemistry, cosmochemistry, and biogeochemistry.
Another branch is physical chemistry, which refers to the concept of physics in chemical systems. This field is also sometimes called physicochemistry. It uses the principles of thermodynamics, quantum chemistry and kinetics as a basis.
On the other hand, bioinorganic chemistry is the study of compounds containing metal-carbon bonds within biological systems. This is a particularly interesting branch because it also incorporates aspects of organic chemistry. Bioinorganic chemistry focuses on the claim of metal ions in biochemical processes.
Inorganic chemistry lends itself to many different industries, including education, environmental sciences, and government agencies. A scientist who focuses on this field could create or improve formulas for household cleaners. He could also work in chemical research, inventing new ways to manipulate the properties of metallic elements into useful functions.
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