13 topics with concise reviews: definitions, key facts, and class questions.
Without a clear understanding of chemical substance classes, mastering biochemistry and pharmacology is impossible. In this chapter, we systematize knowledge of inorganic compounds, which will serve as your foundation for studying molecular processes in the body.
The section systematically leads from the chemical activity of simple substances to the classification of complex ones. We will examine oxides, acids, and bases in detail, review the function of indicators and neutralization reactions. A separate block is devoted to salts: you will learn to distinguish normal, acid, basic, and double salts, as well as understand the nature of crystal hydrates.
During colloquia, instructors are most rigorous when questioning the topic of coordination compounds. Pay special attention to their structure and the ability to determine the coordination number. This knowledge is critically important for understanding how metalloenzymes, hemoglobin, and modern chelating drugs work.
Why does the number of simple substances not match the number of chemical elements?
This is due to allotropy. Many elements are capable of forming not one, but several simple substances at once, differing in structure and properties (like oxygen and ozone).
Is there an exact formula or numerical value for chemical activity?
No, this is a qualitative concept. It is assessed based on a combination of properties: reaction rates, the number of possible reactants, and the need for harsh conditions (heating, pressure, irradiation).
Why is carbon monoxide (CO) classified as inorganic?
This is a historically established nomenclature exception. Despite containing carbon, carbon oxides, carbides, and carbonates are closer in their properties and origin to inorganic substances.
Do all metals react with atmospheric oxygen?
Many active metals gradually oxidize in air, becoming covered with a protective oxide film (slow oxidation without a flame). But noble metals are stable, and their oxides are fundamentally unstable compounds.
Does carbonic acid exist as an independent substance?
No, it is extremely unstable. In ordinary carbonated water, the equilibrium is strongly shifted: 99% exists as dissolved gas ($CO_2$) and water, and only 1% of molecules exist as $H_2CO_3$.
What are the products of a neutralization reaction?
Water and salt are formed as a result of the chemical interaction between an acid and a base. These products exhibit neither acidic nor basic properties.
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