Every day a person interacts with a large number of objects. They are made of different materials, have their own structure and composition. Everything that surrounds a person can be divided into organic and inorganic. In the article, we will consider what such substances are, we will give examples. We will also determine which inorganic substances are found in biology.
Description
Inorganic substances are called substances that do not contain carbon. They are the opposite of organic. This group also includes several carbon-containing compounds, for example:
- cyanides;
- oxides of carbon;
- carbonates;
- carbides and others.
Examples of inorganic substances:
- water;
- various acids (hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric);
- s alt;
- ammonia;
- carbon dioxide;
- metals and non-metals.
The inorganic group is distinguished by the absence of a carbon skeleton, which is characteristicfor organic matter. Inorganic substances according to their composition are usually divided into simple and complex. Simple substances make up a small group. There are approximately 400 in total.
Simple inorganic compounds: metals
Metals are simple substances, the connection of atoms of which is based on a metallic bond. These elements have characteristic metallic properties: thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, ductility, brilliance, and others. In total, 96 elements are distinguished in this group. These include:
- alkali metals: lithium, sodium, potassium;
- alkaline earth metals: magnesium, strontium, calcium;
- transition metals: copper, silver, gold;
- light metals: aluminum, tin, lead;
- semimetals: polonium, moscovium, nihonium;
- lanthanides and lanthanum: scandium, yttrium;
- actinides and actinium: uranium, neptunium, plutonium.
Mostly in nature, metals are found in the form of ore and compounds. To obtain pure metal without impurities, it is purified. If necessary, doping or other processing is possible. This is a special science - metallurgy. It is divided into black and color.
Simple inorganic compounds: nonmetals
Non-metals are chemical elements that do not have metallic properties. Examples of inorganic substances:
- water;
- nitrogen;
- sulfur;
- oxygen andothers.
Non-metals are characterized by a large number of electrons in the outer energy level of their atom. This causes some properties: the ability to attach additional electrons increases, a higher oxidative activity appears.
In nature, you can find non-metals in a free state: oxygen, chlorine, fluorine, hydrogen. As well as solid forms: iodine, phosphorus, silicon, selenium.
Some non-metals have a distinctive property - allotropy. That is, they can exist in various modifications and forms. For example:
- gaseous oxygen has modifications: oxygen and ozone;
- hard carbon can exist in the following forms: diamond, graphite, glassy carbon and others.
Complex inorganic compounds
This group of substances is more numerous. Complex compounds are distinguished by the presence of several chemical elements in the substance.
Let's take a closer look at complex inorganic substances. Examples and their classification are presented below in the article.
1. Oxides are compounds in which oxygen is one of the elements. The group includes:
- non-s alt-forming (e.g. carbon monoxide, nitric oxide);
- s alt-forming oxides (e.g. sodium oxide, zinc oxide).
2. Acids are substances that contain hydrogen ions and acidic residues. For example, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen sulfide.
3. Hydroxides are compounds that contain the -OH group. Classification:
- bases - soluble and insoluble alkalis - copper hydroxide, sodium hydroxide;
- oxygen-containing acids - dihydrogen trioxocarbonate, hydrogen trioxonitrate;
- amphoteric - chromium hydroxide, copper hydroxide.
4. S alts are substances that contain metal ions and acid residues. Classification:
- medium: sodium chloride, iron sulfide;
- acidic: sodium bicarbonate, hydrosulfates;
- basic: dihydroxochrome nitrate, hydroxochrome nitrate;
- complex: sodium tetrahydroxozincate, potassium tetrachloroplatinate;
- double: potassium alum;
- mixed: potassium aluminum sulfate, potassium copper chloride.
5. Binary compounds - substances consisting of two chemical elements:
- oxygen-free acids;
- oxygen-free s alts and others.
Inorganic compounds containing carbon
Such substances traditionally belong to the group of inorganic. Substance examples:
- Carbonates - esters and s alts of carbonic acid - calcite, dolomite.
- Carbides - compounds of non-metals and metals with carbon - beryllium carbide, calcium carbide.
- Cyanides - s alts of hydrocyanic acid - sodium cyanide.
- Carbon oxides - a binary compound of carbon and oxygen - carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
- Cyanates - are derivatives of cyanic acid - fulmic acid, isocyanic acid.
- Carbonyl metals –a complex of metal and carbon monoxide - nickel carbonyl.
Properties of inorganic substances
All considered substances differ in individual chemical and physical properties. In general, it is possible to distinguish the distinctive features of each class of inorganic substances:
1. Base metals:
- high thermal and electrical conductivity;
- metallic sheen;
- lack of transparency;
- strength and ductility;
- at room temperature retain their hardness and shape (except mercury).
2. Simple non-metals:
- simple non-metals can be in the gaseous state: hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine;
- bromine occurs in the liquid state;
- solid non-metals have a non-molecular state and can form crystals: diamond, silicon, graphite.
3. Compounds:
- oxides: react with water, acids and acidic oxides;
- acids: react with water, basic oxides and alkalis;
- amphoteric oxides: can react with acidic oxides and bases;
- hydroxides: dissolve in water, have a wide range of melting points, can change color when interacting with alkalis.
Organic and inorganic substances of the cell
A cell of any living organism consists of many components. Some of them are inorganic compounds:
- Water. For example, the amount of water in a cell is between 65 and 95%. It is necessary for the implementation of chemical reactions, the movement of components, the process of thermoregulation. Also, it is water that determines the volume of the cell and the degree of its elasticity.
- Mineral s alts. They can be present in the body both in dissolved form and in undissolved form. An important role in cell processes is played by cations: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium - and anions: chlorine, bicarbonates, superphosphate. Minerals are essential for maintaining osmotic balance, regulating biochemical and physical processes, generating nerve impulses, maintaining blood clotting levels, and many other reactions.
Not only the inorganic substances of the cell are important for maintaining life. Organic components occupy 20-30% of its volume.
Classification:
- simple organic substances: glucose, amino acids, fatty acids;
- complex organic substances: proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, polysaccharides.
Organic components are necessary to perform the protective, energy function of the cell, they serve as an energy source for cellular activity and store nutrients, carry out protein synthesis, transmit hereditary information.
The article examined the essence and examples of inorganic substances, their role in the composition of the cell. We can say that the existence of living organisms would be impossible without groups of organic and inorganic compounds. They are important in every area of human life, as well as in the existence of everyorganism.
