Which type of compound does not contain carbon atoms or has carbon ionically bonded to other atoms?

Inorganic compounds are defined primarily by their composition, which typically does not include carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds that characterize organic compounds. While pure carbon in certain forms, such as graphite or diamond, can be considered inorganic, inorganic compounds can also include a variety of other elements without carbon. This broad category encompasses salts, minerals, and metals, which may feature ionic bonds—where atoms transfer electrons rather than share them—rather than the covalent bonds commonly found in organic compounds.

The other types of compounds listed mainly include carbon in their structure. For example, organic compounds are defined by the presence of carbon atoms, especially those that are covalently bonded to hydrogens. Polyatomic compounds typically consist of ions that contain carbon and must involve covalent bonding, while metallic compounds involve metals that may not fit the criteria of lacking carbon atoms. Thus, inorganic compounds are accurately described as those that do not contain carbon or where carbon is present in a manner such as ionic bonding rather than typical organic configurations.