Inorganic chemistry students have to know how the various inorganic chemicals are formed. The various chemical elements which compose inorganic compounds are compounds of either oxygen or nitrogen. Additionally, organic compounds can also be in the state called “molecular”, in which the number of molecules is greater than the number of atoms. And some natural fibers can be made up of inorganic materials as well.
There are two main branches of inorganic chemistry: solid-state and non-solid-state. In solid-state chemistry, the study of inorganic compounds in solid form, while in non-solid-state chemistry the study of inorganic compounds in solid and semi-solid form. Solid-state compounds consist of all the elements available in nature under the condition that they are in solution, and in solid form they include all the known elements up to the time that they become ionized. On the other hand, all the elements that can exist in non-solid form are known as non-organic compounds.
All the inorganic compounds in organic chemistry share common properties which have specific uses in chemical reactions and in natural fibers. Among the most common elements which can be found in inorganic compounds are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon, and iron. In addition, fluorine, ferric, phosphorous, boron, manganese, aluminum, and nickel are also present in organic compounds. In particular, these elements play important roles in many fibers, some of which have excellent mechanical and chemical properties.
The study of inorganic compounds is therefore divided into two main branches, those of inorganic chemistry and that of organometallic chemistry. The study of inorganic compounds, inorganic chemists’ first aim is to understand inorganic compounds, in terms of their chemical makeup, structure, and nomenclature. Second, inorganic compounds are investigated for their usefulness in natural products. For example, inorganic compounds which are useful as catalysts in various biological reactions are studied. Organometallic chemists study organic compounds which exhibit a remarkable similarity to the structure of certain known substances, but which are otherwise difficult to classify.
Dow Chemical Company, one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic chemicals and pesticides, is one of the world’s leading makers of inorganic chemicals. Many of the pesticides and other products which Dow produces contain compounds which are derived from inorganic compounds. These products may also contain compounds which were developed from organic compounds by Dow Chemical Company scientists. One of the most recent examples of inorganic chemistry being studied by Dow chemists was a compound called methacrylate, which was developed by Dow to improve the wear and tear on steel pipes. Methacrylate is said to be useful in preventing corrosion and erosion in pipelines carrying liquids such as gasoline, oil, and other lubricating fluids, as well as in preventing the growth of algae, as well as in combating against mold and yeast.
The study of inorganic chemistry is also closely tied in with that of microchips, which make use of chips composed of inorganic materials and organic components. In this case, the inorganic material is silicon, while the organic component is phosphorus. The two types of material can be mixed together and used as an integrated circuit. Microchips have already been in use for many years within the military’s databases, and this is yet another example of how inorganic chemistry can play a role in the development of high-tech semiconductors.
As stated above, inorganic chemistry has had a great part in the development of many of today’s high tech materials. Some of these materials, such as the semiconductor nanowires and the hybrid semiconductor nanomolar, owe their existence in part to the work done in inorganic chemistry. Other materials, such as the flat ribbon technology and the LED technology owe their existence to the study of inorganic chemistry. Additionally, materials such as rubbers and plastics, which make up many of our everyday items, are made using inorganic chemicals as well. The future of integrated circuit design and manufacturing is likely to continue to rely on inorganic chemistry for the solutions to problems which are currently arising in the semiconductor market.