Editing Aliphatic compound

{{Short description|Hydrocarbon compounds without aromatic rings}}
{{One source|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Butan Lewis.svg|thumb|right|220px|Acyclic aliphatic/non-aromatic compound ([[butane]])]] [[File:Cyclobutane2.svg|thumb|right|170px|Cyclic aliphatic/non-aromatic compound ([[cyclobutane]])]]

In [[organic chemistry]], [[hydrocarbon]]s ([[chemical compound|compounds]] composed solely of [[carbon]] and [[hydrogen]]) are divided into two classes: [[aromatic compound]]s and '''aliphatic compounds''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|l|ᵻ|ˈ|f|æ|t|ᵻ|k}}; G. ''aleiphar'', fat, oil). Aliphatic compounds can be [[Saturated and unsaturated compounds|saturated]] (in which all the C-C bonds are single, requiring the structure to be completed, or 'saturated', by hydrogen) like [[hexane]], or [[wikt:unsaturated|unsaturated]], like [[hexene]] and [[hexyne]]. [[Open-chain compound]]s, whether straight or branched, and which contain no rings of any type, are always aliphatic. [[cyclic compound|Cyclic compounds]] can be aliphatic if they are not [[Aromaticity#Characteristics_of_aromatic_systems|aromatic]].<ref>{{GoldBookRef |title=aliphatic compounds |file=A00217 |year=1995}}</ref>

== Structure ==

Aliphatics compounds can be [[Saturated and unsaturated compounds|saturated]], joined by single bonds ([[alkane]]s), or unsaturated, with double bonds ([[alkene]]s) or triple bonds ([[alkyne]]s). If other elements ([[heteroatom]]s) are bound to the [[Catenation|carbon chain]], the most common being [[oxygen]], [[nitrogen]], [[sulfur]], and [[chlorine]], it is no longer a hydrocarbon, and therefore no longer an aliphatic compound. However, such compounds may still be referred to as aliphatic if the hydrocarbon portion of the molecule is aliphatic, e.g. [[aliphatic amine]]s, to differentiate them from [[aromatic amines]].

The least complex aliphatic compound is [[methane]] (CH<sub>4</sub>).

== Properties ==

Most aliphatic compounds are [[flammable]], allowing the use of [[hydrocarbon]]s as [[fuel]], such as methane in [[natural gas]] for stoves or heating; [[butane]] in [[Butane torch|torches]] and [[Lighter|lighters]]; various aliphatic (as well as aromatic) hydrocarbons in liquid transportation fuels like [[Gasoline|petrol/gasoline]], [[Diesel fuel|diesel]], and [[jet fuel]]; and other uses such as [[ethyne]] (acetylene) in [[welding]].

== Examples of aliphatic compounds ==
The most important aliphatic compounds are:

* n-, iso- and cyclo-alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons)
* n-, iso- and cyclo-alkenes and -alkynes (unsaturated hydrocarbons).

Important examples of low-molecular aliphatic compounds can be found in the list below (sorted by the number of carbon-atoms):

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Formula || Name || Structural formula || Chemical classification
|-
| {{chem2|CH4}} || [[Methane]] || [[File:Methane-2D-stereo.svg|75px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C2H2}} || [[Acetylene]] || [[File:Ethyne-2D-flat.png|75px]] || Alkyne
|-
| {{chem2|C2H4}} || [[Ethylene]] || [[File:Ethene structural.svg|75px]] || Alkene
|-
| {{chem2|C2H6}} || [[Ethane]] || [[File:Ethan Lewis.svg|75px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C3H4}} || [[Propyne]] || [[File:Propyne-2D-flat.png|75px]] || Alkyne
|-
| {{chem2|C3H6}} || [[Propene]] || [[File:Propen21.PNG|100px]] || Alkene
|-
| {{chem2|C3H8}} || [[Propane]] || [[File:Propane-2D-flat.png|100px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C4H6}} || [[1,2-Butadiene]] || [[File:Buta-1,2-dien.svg|100px]] || [[Diene]]
|-
| {{chem2|C4H6}} || [[1-Butyne]] || [[File:Ethylacetylene.svg|100px]] || Alkyne
|-
| {{chem2|C4H8}} || [[1-Butene]] || [[File:1-Butene.svg|65px]] || Alkene
|-
| {{chem2|C4H10}} || [[Butane]] || [[File:Butane-2D-flat.png|100px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C6H10}} || [[Cyclohexene]] || [[File:Cyclohexen - Cyclohexene.svg|40px]] || Cycloalkene
|-
| {{chem2|C5H12}} || [[N-Pentane|''n''-pentane]] || [[File:Pentan Skelett.svg|75px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C7H14}} || [[Cycloheptane]] || [[File:Cycloheptane.svg|50px]] || Cycloalkane
|-
| {{chem2|C7H14}} || [[Methylcyclohexane]] || [[File:Methylcyclohexane.png|75px]] || Cyclohexane
|-
| {{chem2|C8H8}} || [[Cubane]] || [[File:Cuban.svg|75px]] || [[Prismanes|Prismane]], [[Platonic hydrocarbon]]
|-
| {{chem2|C9H20}} || [[Nonane]] || [[File:Nonan Skelett.svg|100px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C10H12}} || [[Dicyclopentadiene]] || [[File:Di-Cyclopentadiene ENDO & EXO V.2.svg|125px]] || Diene, Cycloalkene
|-
| {{chem2|C10H16}} || [[Phellandrene]] || [[File:Phellandrene alpha.svg|50px]][[File:Phellandrene beta.svg|50px]] || [[Terpene]], Diene, Cycloalkene
|-
| {{chem2|C10H16}} || [[α-Terpinene]] || [[File:Alpha-Terpinene Structure V.1.svg|90px]] || Terpene, Diene, Cycloalkene
|-
| {{chem2|C10H16}} || [[Limonene]] || [[File:(R)-Limonen.svg|50px]][[File:(S)-Limonen.svg|50px]] || Terpene, Diene, Cycloalkene
|-
| {{chem2|C11H24}} || [[Undecane]] || [[File:Undecan Skelett.svg|125px]] || Alkane
|-
| {{chem2|C30H50}} || [[Squalene]] || [[File:Squalene.svg|125px]] || Terpene, Polyene
|-
| {{chem2|C_{2''n''}H_{4''n''} }} || [[Polyethylene]] || [[File:Polyethylene_repeat_unit.svg|75px]] || Alkane
|}

==References==
<references />

{{Authority control}}{{Organic-chem-stub}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:aliphatic Compound or non-aromatic compound}}
[[Category:Organic compounds]]