Which statement(s) is(are) true regarding inorganic compounds?
A They do not contain carbon
B They are usual soluble in water
C They have high melting points
D They usually contain high levels of ions
C All of these statements are true
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is C: All of these statements are true.
Inorganic compounds generally refer to compounds that are not based on carbon-hydrogen bonding. While this definition encompasses a wide range of substances, the characteristics of inorganic compounds often include the following:
- A. They do not contain carbon: While many inorganic compounds do not contain carbon, this is not a strict rule. For instance, carbonates, cyanides, and carbon monoxide are considered inorganic despite containing carbon. However, in a broad sense, inorganic compounds are often those that lack carbon or have carbon in forms that do not involve typical carbon-based covalent bonds like those in organic compounds.
- B. They are usually soluble in water: Many inorganic compounds, especially ionic compounds like salts, dissolve easily in water. The ability of an inorganic compound to dissolve in water depends on the nature of the bonds and the charge of the ions. For instance, sodium chloride (NaCl) dissolves well in water because it dissociates into sodium and chloride ions, which are stabilized by water molecules.
- C. They have high melting points: Inorganic compounds, particularly ionic solids, tend to have high melting points due to the strong electrostatic forces between positively and negatively charged ions. For example, sodium chloride has a high melting point of about 800°C because of the strong ionic bonds between the Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.
- D. They usually contain high levels of ions: Many inorganic compounds are ionic, meaning they consist of positively and negatively charged ions. Examples include salts, acids, and bases. These compounds contain a large number of ions in their structure, which is essential to their ability to conduct electricity in solution (electrolytes).
Therefore, all of these statements are typically true for many inorganic compounds, though there are some exceptions, especially in terms of the carbon content.