Dictionary Definition
aliphatic adj : having carbon atoms linked in
open chains
User Contributed Dictionary
English
Pronunciation
- a US /ælIfætIk/, /
Extensive Definition
In organic
chemistry, compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen are divided into two
classes: aromatic
compounds, which contain benzene and other similar
compounds, and aliphatic compounds (G. aleiphar, fat, oil), which
do not. In aliphatic compounds, carbon atoms can be joined together
in straight chains, branched chains, or rings (in which case they
are called alicyclic).
They can be joined by single bonds (alkanes), double bonds (alkenes), or triple bonds
(alkynes). Besides
hydrogen, other
elements can be bound to the carbon chain, the most common being
oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine.
The simplest aliphatic
compound is methane
(CH4). Aliphatics
include alkanes such as
fatty
acids and paraffin
hydrocarbons,
alkenes (such as ethylene) and alkynes (such as acetylene).
Most aliphatic compounds are
flammable, allowing the use of hydrocarbons as fuel, such as
methane in Bunsen
burners, and acetylene
in welding.
Examples
See also
References
aliphatic in Arabic:
أليفاتي
aliphatic in Catalan:
Hidrocarbur alifàtic
aliphatic in Czech:
Alifatická sloučenina
aliphatic in Danish:
Alifatisk forbindelse
aliphatic in German:
Aliphatische Kohlenwasserstoffe
aliphatic in Spanish:
Hidrocarburo alifático
aliphatic in French:
Aliphatique
aliphatic in Indonesian:
Alifatik
aliphatic in Italian:
Composti alifatici
aliphatic in Hebrew:
אליפטיות
aliphatic in Dutch:
Alifatische verbinding
aliphatic in Norwegian:
Alifatisk forbindelse
aliphatic in Russian:
Алифатическое соединение
aliphatic in Finnish:
Alifaattinen yhdiste
aliphatic in Swedish:
Alifatisk
aliphatic in Vietnamese: Hợp
chất aliphatic
aliphatic in Ukrainian:
Аліфатичні сполуки
aliphatic in Chinese:
脂肪族化合物