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inorganic

inorganic

13 4.7
Not made from living things and not containing carbon, for example rocks or glass
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪnɔrˈgænɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : inorgánico
  • The use of inorganic fertilizers can significantly enhance crop yields in agriculture.
  • inorganic nitrogen
  • inorganic arsenic
  • inorganic carbon

Now with cyborgs or with inorganic entities, this is no longer true.

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Examples

  • The exposure to inorganic arsenic from food and inhaled air and its absorption are not fully investigated.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Generally speaking, systems using reverse osmosis remove substantial amounts of most inorganic chemicals, including lead.

    Academic text (1994)
  • But once you switch from organic to inorganic, it becomes much easier.

  • We're really becoming very close to understanding the key steps how we can transform inorganic dead matter into living matter.

  • Biological and inorganic matter detected.

  • We are organic animals and an inorganic digital system which is increasingly controlling and shaping the entire world.

  • Loads with 20 percent or less inorganic content will pay $66/ton.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Plants and microorganisms compete for the inorganic nitrogen needed by both communities for biosynthesis and growth.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is an inorganic acid commonly used in many domestic and industrial settings.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Epidemiologic studies have mostly evaluated inorganic arsenic, which is more toxic than organic arsenic.

    Academic text (2012)

Synonyms

abiotic
vsinorganic
  • Specialized
1 6.7

Not living parts of an environment, like sunlight and temperature

refers to substances not derived from living organisms or carbon compounds
anorganic
vsinorganic
8.1

Not made from plants or animals

is the standard modern term for the same meaning
abiological
vsinorganic
  • Specialized
9.3

Not made by or connected to living things

focuses on chemical composition rather than origin from organisms

Antonyms

organic
  • Specialized
72 3.7

Made from or containing carbon, often found in living things

Compounds

inorganic compound
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A chemical that does not contain carbon, like salt or metal

inorganic chemistry
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The study of materials like metals and salts not based on carbon

inorganic phosphate
  • Specialized
5.5

A salt containing phosphorus but not carbon, found in living bodies, soil, or factories

How Carbonaceous

graphitic
  • Specialized
6.6
carbonaceous
  • Specialized
2 9.1
carbonic
  • Specialized
2 7.4
inorganic
  • Specialized
13 4.7

Surface Forms

inorganic positive

Morphology

inorganic = organic (semi-transparent) = in + organ + ic

The prefix 'in-' straightforwardly negates 'organic', so learners who know 'organic' can usually infer 'not organic'.

Etymology

Inorganic breaks down into the prefix in- meaning 'not' and organic, which comes from words for 'organ' and 'organism' meaning 'living things'. So inorganic means 'not from living things', and in chemistry it describes materials like rocks or metals that are not made from living matter.