Sincetheterm"inorganicchemical"coverscompoundsofalltheelementsotherthancarbon,thediversityoforiginsisnotsurprising.Someofthemoreimportantsourcesaremetallicores(forimportantmetalslikeironandaluminum),andsaltorbrine(forchlorine,sodiumhydroxideandsodiumcarbonate).