Chemical raw materials can generally be divided into two main categories: organic chemical raw materials and inorganic chemical raw materials.
Organic chemical raw materials can be further divided into alkanes and their derivatives, alkenes and their derivatives, alkynes and their derivatives, quinones, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, phenols, ethers, anhydrides, esters, organic acids, carboxylates, carbohydrates, heterocyclic compounds, nitriles, halogenated compounds, aminoacyl compounds, and other types.
Inorganic chemical raw materials are mainly composed of chemical minerals containing sulfur, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, etc. (see Inorganic Salt Industry), as well as coal, petroleum, natural gas, air, and water. In addition, many byproducts and wastes from various industrial sectors are also raw materials for inorganic chemicals. For example, the ammonia contained in coke oven gas from the coking process in the iron and steel industry can be recovered using sulfuric acid to produce ammonium sulfate; sulfur dioxide in the smelting waste gas from chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite can be used to produce sulfuric acid, etc.
