Glossary
The English version of our glossary is currently under construction and will be regularly updated.
Inorganic carbon
Carbon compounds that are not based on carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Examples of inorganic carbon include carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), carbonates and bicarbonates.
Inorganic carbon can be found in a range of settings, e.g. in the atmosphere, soil, bodies of water and in sediments. It plays an important part in Earth’s carbon cycle, as it is absorbed by living organisms, stored in organic compounds, and converted via chemical processes like photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
Inorganic carbon can also affect the environment, e.g. in the form of greenhouse gases, which can contribute to global warming, or through the acidification of water bodies, which can harm marine ecosystems.