Chemicals are divided into organic and inorganic categories based on the raw materials used to make them. Organic compounds usually contain carbon. For example, organic inputs such as oil and natural gas include hydrocarbons, which are the main building blocks of organic chemical products.
Inorganic inputs are usually a combination of two or more natural components and often carbon is not considered as one of their main ingredients. Although very few chemicals use oil and natural gas directly as raw materials. Instead, oil and natural gas are first processed into liquid natural gases, such as ethane and propane, or heavier liquids, such as naphtha and diesel, and then used in the process of producing chemical products.
In the first stage of processing, these raw materials are usually refined to produce primary products such as benzene and ethylene. Such primary products form the foundation of the petrochemical industry. In later stages of processing, chemicals such as chlorine are added to these original hydrocarbons to give these compounds certain desirable properties.
Inorganic inputs are usually a combination of two or more natural components and often carbon is not considered as one of their main ingredients. Although very few chemicals use oil and natural gas directly as raw materials. Instead, oil and natural gas are first processed into liquid natural gases, such as ethane and propane, or heavier liquids, such as naphtha and diesel, and then used in the process of producing chemical products.
In the first stage of processing, these raw materials are usually refined to produce primary products such as benzene and ethylene. Such primary products form the foundation of the petrochemical industry. In later stages of processing, chemicals such as chlorine are added to these original hydrocarbons to give these compounds certain desirable properties.