Aliphatic compound
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2008-06-27T15:51:50Z
Mkluke
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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.<ref>{{GoldBookRef |title=Aliphatic compounds |file=A00217 |year=1995}}</ref> 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]] ([[Carbon|C]][[Hydrogen|H]]<sub>4</sub>). Aliphatics include [[alkanes]] such as [[fatty acid]]s and [[paraffin]] [[hydrocarbon]]s, [[alkene]]s (such as [[ethylene]]) and [[alkyne]]s (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==
<gallery>
Image:Ethane.png|[[Ethane]]
Image:Isobutane.png|[[Isobutane]]
Image:Acetylene-2D.png|[[Acetylene]]
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[Aromaticity|Aromatic compound]]
* [[Carbon-carbon bond]]
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Organic compounds]]
[[ar:أليفاتي]]
[[ca:Hidrocarbur alifàtic]]
[[cs:Alifatická sloučenina]]
[[da:Alifatisk forbindelse]]
[[de:Aliphatische Kohlenwasserstoffe]]
[[es:Hidrocarburo alifático]]
[[fr:Aliphatique]]
[[id:Alifatik]]
[[it:Composti alifatici]]
[[he:אליפטיות]]
[[nl:Alifatische verbinding]]
[[no:Alifatisk forbindelse]]
[[ru:Алифатическое соединение]]
[[fi:Alifaattinen yhdiste]]
[[sv:Alifatisk]]
[[vi:Hợp chất aliphatic]]
[[uk:Аліфатичні сполуки]]
[[zh:脂肪族化合物]]