Inorganic chemistry
Inorganic chemistry is a subdiscipline of chemistry involving the scientific study of the properties and reactions of all chemical elements and chemical compounds other than the vast number of organic compounds (compounds containing at least one carbon-hydrogen bond).[1][2]
There are a number of subdivisions of inorganic chemistry such as the four subdivisions of the American Chemical Society's Division of Inorganic Chemistry , namely organometallic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, solid-state chemistry and nanoscience.[3]
Inorganic chemistry is closely related to other disciplines such as materials science, earth science, mineralogy, geology and crystallography.
Distinctions between inorganic and organic chemistry
The distinction or boundary between inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry is not very well defined. In general, the above definition of inorganic chemistry seemingly excludes carbon compounds but it does not exclude elemental [[carbon] itself. Hence,carbon oxides, carbon sulfides and metallic carbonates are included as inorganic compounds.
As another example of the ill-defined distinction between inorganic and organic chemistry, oxalic acid (H2C204 is commonly considered to be an organic compound even though it does not contain a carbon-hydrogen bond.
References
- ↑ Inorganic Chemistry: A Study Guide From the website of the University of Waterloo, Canada
- ↑ Christopher G. Morris (Editor) (1992). Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology, 1st Edition. Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-200400-0.
- ↑ Division of Inorganic Chemistry, 2010 Officers From the website of the American Chemical Society