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Inorganic compounds are characterized primarily by the absence of carbon in their molecular structure. Unlike organic compounds, which are defined by the presence of carbon-based groups, inorganic compounds can include a variety of substances such as metals, minerals, and salts that do not contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds.

This distinction is significant in chemistry, as it helps classify different types of compounds and understand their properties and behaviors. Inorganic compounds can be found in various forms, including salts like sodium chloride, metal oxides, and acids such as sulfuric acid, all of which lack the carbon backbone typical of organic compounds.

Other choices focus on characteristics that either do not apply to inorganic compounds as a whole or pertain specifically to organic compounds. For instance, saying that inorganic compounds must be derived from living organisms directly relates to organic compounds, which are fundamentally linked to life processes. While some inorganic compounds can exist in solid form, it is not a defining characteristic, as inorganic compounds can be gases or liquids at room temperature too. The defining feature remains the absence of carbon in their composition.