Unit 2: Important Inorganic Compounds Overview
Unit 2 of your chemistry textbook focuses on important inorganic compounds. The unit covers
the definition and classification of inorganic compounds, with a particular focus on:
Oxides
Acids
Bases
Salts
The unit also explores the properties, preparation methods, and uses of these compounds.
Additionally, it delves into the crucial role of inorganic compounds in agriculture, specifically as
fertilizers and pesticides.
Classification of Inorganic Compounds
The sources explain that inorganic compounds are broadly categorized into four main groups:
Oxides: Binary compounds formed by the reaction of oxygen with another element.
Acids: Compounds that produce hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, according
to the Arrhenius theory.
Bases: Compounds that produce hydroxide ions (OH-) when dissolved in water,
according to the Arrhenius theory.
Salts: Ionic compounds formed by the neutralization reaction between an acid and a base.
Detailed Exploration of Each Compound Group
Oxides
Oxides are further classified based on their chemical behaviour:
Acidic oxides: Generally, oxides of non-metals, reacting with water to form acids and
with bases to form salts and water.
Basic oxides: Typically oxides of metals, reacting with water to form bases and with
acids to form salts and water.
Amphoteric oxides: Exhibit both acidic and basic properties, reacting with both acids
and bases to form salts and water.
Neutral oxides: Oxides that neither show acidic nor basic properties and do not react
with either acids or bases.
Peroxides: Contain the peroxide ion (O2 2-), having an oxidation state of -1 for oxygen,
and react with water to form a base and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
Acids
The sources present three definitions of acids:
Arrhenius: Acids produce hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solutions.
Brønsted-Lowry: Acids are proton (H+) donors.
Lewis: Acids are electron-pair acceptors.
Acids are also categorized by:
Number of ionizable hydrogen atoms: Monoprotic (one H+), diprotic (two H+), or
triprotic (three H+).
Number of constituent elements: Binary (two elements, e.g., HCl) or ternary (three
elements, usually containing H, O, and a non-metal, e.g., H2SO4).
Bases
Similar to acids, bases are defined in three ways:
Arrhenius: Bases produce hydroxide ions (OH-) in aqueous solutions.
Brønsted-Lowry: Bases are proton (H+) acceptors.
Lewis: Bases are electron-pair donors.
Salts
Salts are classified based on the extent of neutralization:
Acidic salts: Formed when not all replaceable hydrogen ions from the acid are
neutralized by the base.
Normal salts: Formed when all replaceable hydrogen ions from the acid are replaced by
metal ions or ammonium ions.
Basic salts: Formed when not all hydroxide ions from the base are neutralized by the
acid.
Importance of Inorganic Compounds in Agriculture
The unit emphasizes the significance of inorganic compounds as:
Fertilizers: Provide essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to
enhance soil fertility and plant growth.
Pesticides: Chemicals, including some inorganic compounds, used to control pests and
protect crops, ensuring higher yields.
