Aliphatic compound 2120 222102218 2008-06-27T15:51:50Z Mkluke 2720300 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]]