inorganic

/,inɔ:'gænik/

Thân thiện

A scientist compares an inorganic rock sample to a living plant in a laboratory.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not arising from natural growth or life processes; lacking organic structure: Describes substances, compounds, or matter that are not derived from living organisms and do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds characteristic of living things.
   • Relating to or denoting compounds not containing carbon (with noted exceptions): In chemistry, pertains to substances not based on carbon chains or rings, such as minerals, metals, salts, and acids like sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. (Note: Some simple carbon compounds like carbonates are also traditionally classified as inorganic.)

Usage

• Used primarily in scientific contexts, especially chemistry, geology, and biology, to distinguish from "organic" matter.
• Can describe materials, chemistry, compounds, or processes.
• Often precedes a noun it modifies (e.g., inorganic material, inorganic chemistry).

Examples

• As an adjective:
  • Rocks and metals are examples of inorganic matter.
  • The laboratory specializes in inorganic chemistry, studying compounds like salts and minerals.
  • Fertilizers can be either organic or inorganic in origin.

Advanced Usage

• "inorganic growth": (Business/Economics) Expansion of a company achieved through mergers and acquisitions, rather than through increasing internal sales and output.
  • The corporation's rapid expansion was due to aggressive inorganic growth strategies.
• In a broader, sometimes figurative sense: Can describe something as artificial, foreign, or not an integral part of a system.
  • The new policy felt inorganic to the company's traditional culture.

Variants and Related Words

• Inorganically (adverb): In a manner not derived from living organisms.
  • The crystal formed inorganically in the geothermal pool.
• Inorganic compound (noun phrase): A chemical compound that is not an organic compound (e.g., sodium chloride, water, ammonia).
• Inorganic chemistry (noun phrase): The branch of chemistry concerned with the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds.

Synonyms

• Mineral: (when referring to non-biological, solid inorganic substances)
• Abiotic: Not associated with or derived from living organisms.
• Artificial: (in non-scientific contexts, implying human-made rather than natural)

Antonyms

• Organic: Of, relating to, or derived from living matter; in chemistry, containing carbon.

Notes on Meaning

• The core scientific meaning contrasts with "organic." The key distinction in chemistry is the absence of carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, though the classification has exceptions (e.g., carbon dioxide is considered inorganic).
• It can imply a lack of the complex, organized structure found in living things.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms
2. relating or belonging to the class of compounds not having a carbon basis
   • hydrochloric and sulfuric acids are called inorganic substances