Inorganic chemistry is the study of inorganic compounds, many of which are ionic compounds (salts) consisting of cations (positively charged ions) and anions (negatively charged ions) held together by ionic bonding.

Inorganic chemistry deals with the synthesis and behavior of inorganic and organometallic compounds. This field covers all chemical compounds except the myriad organic compounds (carbon-based compounds, usually containing C-H bonds), which are the subjects of organic chemistry.