Aliphatic compound

Aliphatic compound

In organic chemistry, compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen are divided into two classes: aromatic compounds, which contain benzene rings or similar rings of atoms, and aliphatic compounds (G. "aleiphar", fat, oil), which do not contain aromatic rings. [GoldBookRef |title=Aliphatic compounds |file=A00217 |year=1995]

In aliphatic compounds, carbon atoms can be joined together in straight chains, branched chains, or non-aromatic 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

* Aromatic compound
* Carbon-carbon bond

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • aliphatic compound — alifatinis junginys statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Organinis junginys, kurio molekulėje nėra ciklo. atitikmenys: angl. acyclic compound; aliphatic compound rus. алифатическое соединение; ациклическое соединение; соединение жирного ряда… …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • aliphatic compound — ▪ chemical compound       any chemical compound belonging to the organic class in which the atoms are not linked together to form a ring. One of the major structural groups of organic molecules, the aliphatic compounds include the alkanes,… …   Universalium

  • aliphatic compound — noun organic compound that is an alkane or alkene or alkyne or their derivative • Hypernyms: ↑organic compound • Hyponyms: ↑acetylene, ↑ethyne, ↑alkyne, ↑alicyclic compound, ↑alkene, ↑olefine, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • aliphatic compound — an open chain compound that does not contain multiple bonds; a saturated compound. See open chain, under chain …   Medical dictionary

  • compound — 1. In chemistry, a substance formed by the covalent or electrostatic union of two or more elements, generally differing entirely in physical characteristics from any of its components. 2. In pharmacy, denoting a preparation containing several… …   Medical dictionary

  • aliphatic — adjective Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek aleiphat , aleiphar oil, from aleiphein to smear; perhaps akin to Greek lipos fat more at leave Date: 1889 of, relating to, or being an organic compound (as an alkane) having an …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • aliphatic — Carbon compound in which the carbon chain is open (non cyclic) …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • aliphatic — 1. adjective /ælɪˈfætɪk/ Of a class of organic compounds in which the carbon atoms are arranged in an open chain. 2. noun /ælɪˈfætɪk/ a) A compound of this type. b) A petroleum …   Wiktionary

  • aliphatic — Denoting the acyclic carbon compounds, most of which belong to the fatty acid series. [G. aleiphar (aleiphat ), fat, oil] a. acids the acids of nonaromatic hydrocarbons ( e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric acid s); the so called fatty acid s of the …   Medical dictionary

  • azo compound — ▪ chemical compound       any organic chemical compound in which the azo group (−N=N−) is part of the molecular structure. The atomic groups attached to the nitrogen atoms may be of any organic class, but the commercially important azo compounds …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”