With the advancement of technology, experts have been able to develop science and create innovation in the name of improving human life. One of the fields affected by it in chemistry. In the past, human relied only on organic chemistry where all the sources of chemicals come from nature and living being.
In modern life, there are also many inorganic compound made synthetically in laboratory and just occur in nature. Chemists develop these chemicals to make up the lack of functions in organic compound or to press the cost. Below are some examples of inorganic chemistry in everyday life.
- Cleaning Agent
Many cleaning agents such as soap, detergent, floor cleaner, and glass cleaner contain inorganic compound either as solvent, cleaner itself, or bubble producer. Even the coloring of these products contain inorganic coloring such as CI pigment. Moreover, these chemicals are in the material together with organic compound.
These compounds can be very harsh like causing irritation, burning skin, dry patches and other side effects. That is why it is best not to get in contact to them directly unless it is a body or hand soap that contain milder chemical inside them.
Also read: Examples of Inorganic Compounds
- Textile Additive
Unlike food coloring that requires a lot of health consideration, textile additive often choose for the inorganic compound due to its cheap cost. Moreover, the inorganic compound is not exclusive for the coloring compound but also other component such as fiber, printing and many more.
Inorganic compound often is the result of reactive organic compound such as metal and such in which it does not require long and complicated process of application. Surely the chemicals used have their ups and downs especially for health reason but as long as it is in the right dose, most health association still allow the use.
- Building Foundation
Most will not know that in building foundation there is also some inorganic chemistry at work. For setting concrete to a hard mass, inorganic chemistry works in the solution of powdered calcium sulfate with water. Furthermore, when setting limestone, the dissolve of limestone construction into the foundation also require inorganic chemistry to create beautiful pattern on its surface.
Inorganic compound in the foundation mostly for the hard materials as well as for stone material for inorganic compound sets better than organic compound. It proves how people can find inorganic chemistry in everyday life.
- Home Medicine
Some medicines in house first aid kit are from inorganic compound. Most common medicine with inorganic compounds are laxative and antacid. Laxative is medicine for those who have problem in the excretion of feses while antacid works to press the level of acid in gastro.
Most of these medicines have ph below the acid and makes it comfortable to balance out the acidity of something that has rises above the normal level. Moreover, the medicine with no coating that usually has organic compound on it also mostly from inorganic combined with organic chemicals. For moreinformation, read about Common Chemicals Used in Medicine .
- House Furniture
Another example of inorganic chemistry in everyday life is in the furniture of the house. Some furnitures such as tableware, plates and cutleries are from inorganic compound. Most inorganic compounds in furniture are steels and other metal works.
Hence, the components of furniture that are not made from wood or other living being usually is from organic chemistry. It does include the paint on the furniture and the wall as example of how broad inorganic chemistry application in daily life. Start by exploring the house and look for the furniture that is not living being-based to know.
Also read:Examples of Inorganic Compounds Found at Home
- School Stationery
The school stationery of the children at house also made from inorganic compounds. Stationery like pencils, ballpoint and such is from organic compound of carbon. Oxydated carbon forms black substance usually found in pencil.
Moreover, these components usually also combined with organic compound. In the case of pencil, the pencil filling is of inorganic compound and the wood body is organic compound. The inorganic compound is more harmful if it enter human digestion or contaminate a living being as they are mostly toxic and insoluble. Find more examples of inorganic chemistry in everyday life here!
- Water Freezer
Any house with refrigerator will have water freezer to form ice. The freezing process of water to ice is part of inorganic chemistry that includes inorganic compound such as hydrogen oxide and other non living based components.
The mechanism of water freezer is to keep the temperature at the lowest that does not allow oxygen to enter and oxydate the goods. That is why any products in freezer is more well preserved and takes longer to be stale.
- Electronic Devices
Electronic devices that we found in everyday life such as television, microwave, lamps, batteries, and many more is based on inorganic chemistry. Alkali as the main component in batteries is inorganic compound.
Moreover, other component of these devices such as fiber, steel, cable and such are also based on inorganic components to construct them. Thus, it shows an example of inorganic chemistry in everyday life.
Related to: Chemicals Used in Battery Industry
- Jewelry
Inorganic chemistry is also present in jewelry. Jewelry either made of gold or silver both are inorganic compound. These jewelry comes from earth crust and some of them like diamond is carbon-based gem. They do not become jewelry instantly but through process of extracting and jewelry making.
Thus, it shows a very common example of organic chemistry in everyday life in which people may easily overlook. That is also the reason why some people are allergic to those jewelries. For example skin allergy as these come from inorganic compounds.
- Oxidation Process
Oxygen is both organic and inorganic compound but the oxidation itself has inorganic chemistry mechanism. Example of oxidation is how white paper eventually turns into yellowish or brownas time goes. It is due to exposed to oxygen. The same goes for metal work that gets rusty over time. The simple process that are common in everyday life is part of inorganic chemistry.
Conclusion
There are many examples of inorganic chemistry in everyday life. It includes things humans wear and use such as cleaning agents to furniture. That is all about example of inorganic chemistry in everyday life. What seemingly complicated process is actually abundant around humans.
Also read: