Questions tagged [inorganic-chemistry]
Inorganic compounds generally do not have C-H bonds, while organic compounds do have such bonds. The distinction between inorganic and organic chemistry, however, is far from absolute.
4,967
questions
253
votes
3
answers
41k
views
Why is gold golden?
Bulk gold has a very characteristic warm yellow shine to it, whereas almost all other metals have a grey or silvery color. Where does this come from?
I have heard that this property arises from ...
- 10.9k
83
votes
7
answers
27k
views
Do all salts taste salty?
Recently, I am learning the production of soluble and insoluble salts. My friend and I have done this experiment at the school lab.
We wanted to taste them to see whether they are salty are not. The ...
- 4,703
65
votes
9
answers
42k
views
Why do compounds like SF6 and SF4 exist but SH6 and SH4 don't?
Both $\ce{SF6}$ and $\ce{SH6}$ and $\ce{SF4}$ and $\ce{SH4}$ have the same central atom and the same hybridization, but my teacher specifically mentioned that $\ce{SH6}$ and $\ce{SH4}$ don't exist. I'...
- 759
56
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Why do we write NH3?
We've learnt that the electropositive element is written first. Then why is ammonia written as $\ce{NH3}$ ?
- 1,273
53
votes
4
answers
63k
views
Is carbon dioxide organic or inorganic?
Today in chemistry class we were discussing Organic Chemistry. We discussed what organic compounds basically are and then I asked the teacher whether $\ce{CO_2}$ is organic or not. She told that it is ...
52
votes
2
answers
31k
views
Why is an S-S bond stronger than an O-O bond?
I'm wondering why exactly the single bond between two sulfur atoms is stronger than that of two oxygen atoms. According to this page, an $\ce{O-O}$ bond has an enthalpy of $142~\mathrm{kJ~mol^{-1}}$, ...
- 10.7k
47
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Why does sulfur, but not oxygen, catenate?
Oxygen is a rather boring element. It has only two allotropes, dioxygen and ozone. Dioxygen has a double bond, and ozone has a delocalised cloud, giving rise to two "1.5 bonds".
On the other hand, ...
- 15.2k
45
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Does heavy water taste sweet?
In this YouTube video from Cody's Lab, Cody claims that heavy water tastes sweet.
He does some fairly convincing comparisons but still expresses a little doubt that the effect is real.
Has this been ...
- 37k
44
votes
3
answers
111k
views
What is the inert pair effect?
I was reading about the p-block elements and found that the inert pair effect is mentioned everywhere in this topic. However, the book does not explain it very well. So, what is the inert pair effect? ...
- 577
44
votes
7
answers
25k
views
Why is BCl3 a monomer whereas AlCl3 exists as a dimer?
What makes dimerization possible in $\ce{AlCl3}$? Are there 3c-2e bonds in $\ce{Al2Cl6}$ as there are in $\ce{B2H6}$?
- 1,332
42
votes
1
answer
83k
views
Why is the vanadium(3+) ion paramagnetic?
I know that the electron configuration of vanadium is $[\ce{Ar}]\mathrm{4s^2 3d^3}$.
None of the electrons in the 3d subshell are paired. Once it loses these three electrons, shouldn't the remainder ...
- 1,105
41
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Which "exotic salt" can lower water's freezing point by 70 °C?
The Medium.com article Mars Phoenix Lander, 10 Years Later shows several remarkable images and discoveries on Mars by the Mars Phoenix Lander circa 2008.
One image (shown below) shows what looks like ...
- 5,898
41
votes
5
answers
19k
views
Why does potassium react more violently with water than lithium?
Recently, I was telling my friends about the violent reaction that takes place when you throw potassium into water. Soon after, a friend of mine claimed that lithium would react more violently than ...
- 529
41
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Why is arsenous acid denoted H3AsO3?
Inspired by this question, I'm wondering why arsenous acid is frequently denoted $\ce{H3AsO3}$, as opposed to $\ce{As(OH)3}$, which would appear to more accurately reflect its connectivity?
[edit]
I ...
- 10.8k
40
votes
2
answers
36k
views
What do the prefixes meta, ortho, pyro mean in inorganic chemistry?
In inorganic chemistry, when is the prefix meta used? (as in metaborate and metasulphite)
What about the terms pyro and ortho (as in orthophosphorous acid)?
For example, I recently came to know about ...
- 3,805