IPC Revision WG – Definition Project
Project: D112
Class/subclass: C01B
Rapporteur Proposal
Date : October 14, 2005
Title – C01B
Non-metallic elements;
Compounds thereof
Definition statement
This subclass covers:
The elements of hydrogen, halogen (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine), oxygen,
sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, nitrogen, boron, selenium, tellurium, and noble gases (helium,
neon, argon, krypton, xenon and radon).
Compounds solely composed of any of the elements listed above.
Carbon and compounds of carbon with any of the elements listed above, with the proviso that
said compounds cannot contain a carbon atom bonded directly to another carbon, a carbon
atom bonded directly to hydrogen or a halogen atom, or a carbon bonded directly to a
nitrogen atom by a single or double bond.
Compounds consisting only of carbon atoms, e.g. fullerenes.
Phosgene, thiophosgene and unsubstituted carbamic acid and their salts.
Compounds containing a noble gas.
Compounds containing selenium or tellurium.
Compounds containing an oxygen atom bonded directly to another oxygen atom, e.g.
hydrogen peroxide.
Compounds containing boron.
Compounds containing silicon such as silicates, silicon oxides and colloidal silica, e.g.
dispersions, gels, hydroorganosols, organosols.
Compounds solely containing a metal atom or metal atoms and only the elements of
hydrogen, nitrogen, or phosphorus, e.g. binary compounds.
Magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium sulfides or polysulfides.
Salts of the oxyacids of halogen, phosphorus, nitrogen other than nitric acid and sulfur other
than sulfurous or sulfuric acids.
Salts of hydroxylamine and hydrazine.
Substances having a combination of molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, or having
only molecular sieve properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites.
Synthesis, treatment or modification of any of the elements or compounds above by:

chemical means, i.e. chemical reaction;

physical means, e.g. concentration, dehydration, purification, separation, solidifying,
granulation;

addition of a stabilizer or preservative; or

by the combination of chemical and physical means, with the proviso that the resultant
product is proper for classification in this subclass.
Methods of preparing the following compounds, in general:

halides;

oxides or hydroxides;

sulphides or polysulfides;

sulfites;

sulphates;

nitrates; or

carbonates or bicarbonates.
Apparatus:

for preparation of sulfur trioxide or sulfuric acid by contact processes; or

for preparation of nitric oxide by catalytic oxidation of ammonia or oxidation of
nitrogen.
Relationship between large subject matter areas
In Class C01, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, a compound is classified in the
last appropriate subclass. For example, lead oxide is classified in subclass C01G rather than in
subclass C01B.
Subclass C01B is a function oriented entry for the compounds themselves and does not cover
the application or use of the compounds under the subclass definition. For classifying such
information other entries in IPC exist, for example:

Compounds or compositions for preservation of the bodies of humans, animals, plants,
or parts thereof, e.g. disinfectants, pesticides, herbicides, as pest repellents or
attractants, and as plant growth regulators are classified in A01N.

Preparations for medical, dental, or toilet purposes are classified in A61K.
Salts, adducts, or complexes formed between an inorganic compound of this subclass and an
organic compound of class C07, are regarded as organic compounds and classified in class
C07.
When a process produces multiple compounds only those which are intended or desired
require classification and classification may be proper in multiple subclasses.
MULTIPLE CLASSIFICATION
Biocidal, pest attractant, or plant growth regulatory activity of chemical compounds or
preparations is further classified in A01P.
Therapeutic activity of chemical compounds or medicinal preparations is further classified in
A61P.
Uses of cosmetic or similar toilet preparations are further classified in A61Q.
Processes using enzymes or micro-organisms in order to:
(i) liberate, separate or purify a pre-existing compound or composition, or to
(ii) treat textiles or clean solid surfaces of materials
are further classified in subclass C12S.
References relevant to classification in this subclass
This subclass does not cover:
Intentional preparation of carbon dioxide by a fermentation
process or the use of an enzyme
C12P 1/00
Preparation of elements or inorganic compounds except carbon
dioxide, by a fermentation process or the use of an enzyme
C12P 3/00
Production of non-metallic elements or inorganic compounds by
electrolysis or electrophoresis
C25B 1/00
Examples of places where the subject matter of this class is covered when specially adapted,
used for a particular purpose, or incorporated in a larger system:
Processing powders of inorganic compounds preparatory to the
manufacturing of ceramic products
C04B 35/00
Places in relation to which this subclass is residual:
Informative references
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Chemical or physical processes, e.g. catalysts, colloid chemistry;
their relevant apparatus
B01J
Inorganic fertilisers
C05D
Organic chemistry
C07
Alloys
C22C
Special rules of classification within this subclass
In this subclass, in the absence of an indication to the contrary, a compound or a process of
making a compound appropriate for this subclass is classified in the last appropriate place.
In this subclass, tradenames that are often found in scientific and patent literature have been
used to define precisely the scope of the groups.
This subclass provides for products which are intended or desired. When a process produces
multiple compounds only those which are intended or desired require a classification.
A chemical process of producing a compound of this subclass is classified with the
compound, unless a specific process group is provided.
A physical process related to a specific compound is classified with the compound unless a
specific process group is provided.
Addition of a material that interacts with a compound of this subclass which is intended to
preserve or maintain said compound, but which in fact chemically changes the compound is
classified according to the new compound formed.
Addition of a material which does not interact chemically with a compound of this subclass to
preserve or maintain said compound is classified with the compound of this subclass, unless a
specific subgroup has been provided for the particular concept.
Inorganic salts of a compound, unless specifically provided for, are classified as that
compound.
Glossary of terms
In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Base-exchange
The replacement of one cation absorbed on a material
by another.
Binary compound
A compound containing and limited to two distinct
elements.
Direct bonding
Requires a bond between two adjacent atoms.
Inorganic compound
A compound devoid of a carbon atom, or
a compound containing a carbon atom, and satisfying
one of the following criteria:

the compound cannot have a carbon atom
having direct bonding to another carbon atom, or

the compound cannot have direct bonding
between a carbon atom and a halogen or
hydrogen atom, or

the compound cannot have direct bonding
between a carbon and a nitrogen atom by a
single or double bond.
The following are exceptions to the above and are to be
considered as inorganic compounds, fullerenes,
cyanogen, cyanogen halides, cyanamide, phosgene,
thiophosgene, hydrocyanic acid, isocyanic acid,
isothiocyanic acid, fulminic acid, unsubstituted
carbamic acid, and salts of the previously mentioned
acids and which contain the same limitations as to a
carbon atom.
Isomorphous zeolites
Compounds isomorphous to zeolites wherein the
aluminum or silicon atoms in the framework are partly
or wholly replaced by atoms of other elements, e.g. by
gallium, germanium, phosphorus or boron.
Metal
Any element other than a non-metal
Metal hydride
Compound containing only metal and hydrogen.
Molecular sieve
Zeolitic materials having cavities and channels which
by their size allows some molecules to pass through, but
prevent others.
Non-metal
The elements of hydrogen, carbon, halogen (fluorine,
chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine), oxygen, sulfur,
phosphorus, silicon, nitrogen, boron, selenium,
tellurium, noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton,
xenon and radon).
Organic compound
A compound containing a carbon atom and satisfying
one of the following criteria:

at least two carbon atoms having direct bonding
to each other, or

one carbon atom having direct bonding to at
least one hydrogen atom or halogen atom, or

one carbon atom having direct bonding to at
least one nitrogen atom by a single or double
bond.
Exceptions to the above criteria are: compounds
consisting of only carbon atoms (e.g., fullerenes, etc.),
cyanogen, cyanogen halides, cyanamide, metal
carbides, phosgene, thiophosgene, hydrocyanic acid,
isocyanic acid, isothiocyanic acid, fulminic acid,
unsubstituted carbamic acid, and salts of the previously
mentioned acids; these exceptions are considered to be
inorganic compounds for classification purposes.
Preparation
Covers synthesis, purification, separation, stabilization,
or use of additives, unless a separate place is provided
in the classification scheme.
Zeolites
Cystalline aluminosilicates with base and molecular
sieve properties, having three dimensional,
microporous lattice framework structure of tetrahedral
oxide units
Synonyms and Keywords
In patent documents the following abbreviations are often used:
In patent documents the following expressions/words "---", "---" and "---" are often used as
synonyms.
In patent documents the expression/word "---" is often used instead of "---" which is used in
the classification scheme of this subclass (group).
In patent documents the expression/word "---" is often used with the meaning "---"