What term is used for compounds or substances that are not organic?

The term used for compounds or substances that are not organic is "inorganic." Inorganic compounds typically include minerals, metals, and salts that do not contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds at their core. These substances can be made up of a variety of elements including metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.

In contrast, organic compounds are defined by their carbon-containing structures and are often associated with biological processes. Biological substances typically refer to those that are produced by living organisms, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, which are predominantly organic. The term "artificial" applies to materials that are man-made rather than naturally occurring, but this does not specifically distinguish whether they are organic or inorganic. Thus, the classification of a substance as inorganic is accurate in identifying it as not organic.