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inorganic compound

inorganic compound

1 4.1
A chemical that does not contain carbon, like salt or metal
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnɔrˈgænɪk ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : compuesto inorgánico
  • Metals like iron and copper are classified as inorganic compounds due to their lack of carbon content.

Examples

  • However, most inorganic compounds that are soluble are salts.

    Blog text (13)
  • Each stack sampling run provided data on volatile and semivolatile organic compounds and on inorganic compounds such as metals and hydrogen chloride.

    Academic text (1995)
  • It's like a molecular union, but with organic and inorganic compounds.

  • Some organisms derive the energy they need through the oxidation of inorganic compounds.

    Blog text (16)
  • Those experiments only showed that certain organic compounds could be formed from inorganic compounds and intelligence was and is still needed since someone had to conduct and design those experiments.

  • To commemorate the occasion, Pauling gave a lecture on the nature of the bonds formed by transition metals in inorganic compounds.

    Blog text (21)
  • Salt is a common example of an inorganic compound that is essential for many processes in the body.

  • In the laboratory, scientists often study inorganic compounds to understand their properties and reactions.

Antonyms

organic compound
  • Specialized
7 3.7

A chemical that contains carbon and usually hydrogen, often with oxygen or nitrogen

How Carbon-based

carbonaceous
  • Specialized
2 9.1
organic
  • Specialized
72 3.7
noncarbon
  • Specialized
7.5
inorganic compound
  • Specialized
1 4.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

inorganic + compound

The phrase is fully compositional: 'inorganic' (not containing carbon or living matter) modifies 'compound' (a substance formed by chemical combination), so the meaning 'a chemical compound that is not organic' is directly derivable from the parts. This is a literal, technical, and cross‑linguistically common construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it.

Etymology

Inorganic compound comes from the parts in- meaning 'not', organic meaning 'from living things', and compound meaning 'made from parts'. So an inorganic compound is a material made of parts that is 'not' organic — for example, rocks, salt, metals and water do not have carbon and are called inorganic.