Inorganic Chemistry Lecture Notes

Definition and Scope

• Inorganic Chemistry focuses on non-carbon based compounds.
  • Different from Organic Chemistry which is centered around carbon-based compounds.
  • Some compounds containing carbon, like carbon dioxide, are considered inorganic.
  • More accurately defined as the chemistry of non-hydrocarbon-based elements, molecules, or compounds.
• Examples:
  • Organic: Methane, Glucose
  • Inorganic: Water, Carbon Dioxide

Periodic Table and Inorganic Chemistry

• Organic Chemistry: Primarily focuses on carbon and its bonds with other non-metals like oxygen and nitrogen.
• Inorganic Chemistry: Encompasses the entire periodic table including both non-metals and metals.
• Broadens the scope of chemistry to include all elements and their properties.

Complexity and Subfields

• Complexity: Inorganic chemistry is complex due to the inclusion of all elements and their distinct properties.
• Subfields:
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Coordination Complexes
• Industries and Applications: Inorganic chemists work in various industries including:
  • Mining
  • Microchips

Physical Principles and Behavior

• Study Focus: Inorganic chemistry also explores physical principles governing the behavior of elements and compounds.
• Questions Addressed:
  • What do inorganic compounds do?
  • How do they behave?
  • What are the underlying principles of their behavior?

Future Topics

• Upcoming sections will outline the basic concepts of atoms to provide a fundamental understanding of inorganic chemistry.
• Assumes familiarity with General and Organic Chemistry as these fields overlap with Inorganic Chemistry.