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 also determine what inorganic substances are found in biology.
Description
Inorganic substances are those that do not contain carbon. They are the opposite of organic. This group also includes several carbon-containing compounds, for example:
- cyanides;
- carbon oxides;
- carbonates;
- carbides and others.
Examples of inorganic substances:
- water;
- different acids (hydrochloric, nitric, sulfuric);
- salt;
- ammonia;
- carbon dioxide;
- metals and non-metals.
The inorganic group is characterized by the absence of a carbon skeleton, which is characteristic of organic substances. Inorganic substances in composition are usually divided into simple and complex. Simple substances make up a small group. In total there are about 400.
Simple inorganic compounds: metals
Metals are simple substances, the union of atoms of which is based on a metal bond. These elements have characteristic metallic properties: thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, ductility, gloss 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, Muscovy, nichonium;
- lanthanides and lanthanum: scandium, yttrium;
- actinides and sea anemone: uranium, neptunium, plutonium.
Mostly in nature, metals are found in the form of ores and compounds. To obtain pure metal without impurities, it is purified. If necessary, alloying or other processing is possible. This is a special science - metallurgy. It is divided into black and color.
Simple inorganic compounds: non-metals
Non-metals are chemical elements that do not have metallic properties. Examples of inorganic substances:
- water;
- nitrogen;
- sulfur;
- oxygen and others.
Non-metals are distinguished by a large number of electrons at the external energy level of their atom. This leads to some properties: the ability to attach additional electrons increases, and higher oxidative activity is manifested.
In nature, you can find non-metals in the 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 instance:
- gaseous oxygen has modifications: oxygen and ozone;
- solid carbon can exist in such 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 composition of the substance.
Let us consider in more detail complex inorganic substances. Examples and their classification are presented below in the article.
1. Oxides - compounds, one of whose elements is oxygen. The group includes:
- non-salt forming (e.g. carbon monoxide, nitric oxide);
- salt-forming oxides (e.g. sodium oxide, zinc oxide).
2. Acids - substances that include hydrogen ions and acid residues. For example, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrogen sulfide.
3. Hydroxides - compounds in which the –OH group is present. Classification:
- bases - soluble and insoluble alkalis - copper hydroxide, sodium hydroxide;
- oxygen-containing acids - dihydrogen trioxocarbonate, hydrogen trioxonitrate;
- amphoteric - chromium hydroxide, copper hydroxide.
4. Salts - substances that contain metal ions and acid residues. Classification:
- medium: sodium chloride, iron sulfide;
- acidic: sodium bicarbonate, hydrosulfates;
- basic: dihydroxochrom nitrate, hydroxochrom 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 salts and others.
Inorganic compounds containing carbon
Such substances traditionally belong to the group of inorganic. Examples of substances:
- Carbonates - esters and salts of carbonic acid - calcite, dolomite.
- Carbides - compounds of non-metals and metals with carbon - beryllium carbide, calcium carbide.
- Cyanides - salts 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 - fulminic acid, isocyanic acid.
- Carbonyl metals - a complex of metal and carbon monoxide - nickel carbonyl.
Properties of inorganic substances
All substances considered are distinguished by individual chemical and physical properties. In general terms, one can distinguish the distinctive features of each class of inorganic substances:
1. Simple metals:
- high heat and electrical conductivity;
- metallic luster;
- lack of transparency;
- strength and ductility;
- at room temperature they retain their hardness and shape (except for mercury).
2. Simple non-metals:
- simple non-metals can be in a gaseous state: hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine;
- bromine is found in a liquid state;
- solid non-metals have a non-molecular state and can form crystals: diamond, silicon, graphite.
3. Complex substances:
- oxides: react with water, acids and acid oxides;
- acids: react with water, basic oxides and alkalis;
- amphoteric oxides: can react with acidic oxides and bases;
- hydroxides: soluble 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 its degree of elasticity.
- Mineral salts. May be present in the body both in dissolved form and in undissolved. An important role in cell processes is played by cations: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium - and anions: chlorine, bicarbonates, superphosphate. Minerals are necessary to maintain osmotic balance, regulate biochemical and physical processes, generate nerve impulses, maintain blood coagulation and many other reactions.
To maintain vital activity, not only inorganic substances of the cell are important. 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 for the protective, energetic function of the cell, they serve as a source of energy 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 every organism.