Classification of Inorganic Compounds

The Inorganic compounds that are classified as:

• Acids Acids are those compounds that dissolve in water and generate hydrogen ions or H+ Ions. The examples of acids include Hydrochloric acid, citric acid, sulphuric acid, vinegar, etc. One example of the acidic reaction is shown below-Hydrochloric acid + water → H⁺ + Cl
• Bases A base is a type of substance or a compound that produces hydroxyl ions when kept in water. The bases like potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, ammonia, sodium hydroxide produce OH- ions when dissolved in water. Potassium Hydroxide + H₂O → K⁺ + OH^–
• Salts As you might be familiar with the word ‘Salt’. The substances obtained as a result of the reaction between an acid and a base are called Salts. The table salt of sodium hydroxide is one of the typical examples of salts.
• Oxides The compounds which consist of one oxygen atom called Oxides.

Types of Reactions and Examples of Inorganic compounds

There are about four types of chemical reactions of Inorganic chemistry namely combination, decomposition, single displacement and double displacement reactions.

1. Combination Reactions: As it is in the name ‘Combination’, here two or more substances combine to form a product which is called a Combination reaction. For example: Barium + F₂ → BaF₂
2. Decomposition Reaction : It is a type of reaction where a single element splits up or decomposes into two products. For example: FeS → Fe + S
3. Single Displacement Reactions : A reaction where a single atom of one element replaces another atom of one more element. For example: Zn (s) + CuSO₄ (aq) → Cu (s) + ZnSO₄ (aq)
4. Double Displacement Reactions : This type of reaction is also called ‘metathesis reactions’. Here two elements of two different compounds displace each other to form two new compounds. For example:CaCl₂ (aq) + 2AgNO₃ (aq) → Ca(NO₃)₂ (aq) + 2 AgCl (s)