Category: Inorganic compounds

Ionic compounds containing polyatomic ions A special type of ionic compound is exemplified by ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), which contains two polyatomic ions, NH4+ and NO3−. As the name suggests, a polyatomic ion is a charged entity composed of several atoms bound together. Polyatomic ions have special names that are used in the nomenclature of the compounds containing them. Common polyatomic…

Binary molecular (covalent) compounds are formed as the result of a reaction between two nonmetals. Although there are no ions in these compounds, they are named in a similar manner to binary ionic compounds. The nomenclature of binary covalent compounds follows these rules: These examples show how the rules are applied for the covalent compounds formed by…

Binary ionic compounds The nomenclature for binary ionic compounds simply entails naming the ions according to the following rules: The following examples illustrate the nomenclature rules for binary ionic compounds: sodium chloride(opens in a new tab) compound ions present name NaCl Na+, Cl− sodium chloride KI K+, I− potassium iodide CaS Ca2+, S2− calcium sulfide CsBr Cs+,…

Inorganic compound, any substance in which two or more chemical elements (usually other than carbon) are combined, nearly always in definite proportions. Compounds of carbon are classified as organic when carbon is bound to hydrogen. Carbon compounds such as carbides (e.g., silicon carbide [SiC2]), some carbonates (e.g., calcium carbonate [CaCO3]), some cyanides (e.g., sodium cyanide [NaCN]), graphite, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide are classified as inorganic. Read about the differences between inorganic compounds and organic compounds in…

Examples of common everyday inorganic compounds are water, sodium chloride (salt), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), calcium carbonate (dietary calcium source), and muriatic acid (industrial-grade hydrochloric acid). Inorganic compounds typically have high melting points and variable degrees of electrical conductivity.

inorganic compound, any substance in which two or more chemical elements (usually other than carbon) are combined, nearly always in definite proportions.

Inorganic compounds include compounds that are made up of two or more elements other than carbon, as well as certain carbon-containing compounds that lack carbon-carbon bonds, such as cyanides and carbonates. Inorganic compounds are most often classified in terms of the elements or groups of elements that they contain.