Aliphatic compound

Aliphatic compounds (; G. aleiphar, fat, oil) are chemical compounds containing the element carbon that are not aromatic compounds. Aliphatic compounds can be saturated, where all C-C bonds are single bonds (e.g., hexane), or unsaturated, where double or triple bonds are present between carbon atoms (e.g., hexene, hexyne). Other definitionsThe definition given above is that promulgated by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), which sets accepted definitions for chemical terms and nomenclature. Other sources have previously applied additional restrictions, such as stating that only hydrocarbons (compounds made of only carbon and hydrogen) can be aliphatic or excluding cyclic compounds from being aliphatic. These criteria are not present in the current IUPAC definition. StructureAliphatic compounds can be saturated, i.e. alkanes (single carbon-carbon bonds), or unsaturated, with carbon-carbon double (alkenes) or triple bonds (alkynes). It may also be cyclic. If other elements (heteroatoms) are bound to the carbon chain, the most common being oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and chlorine, it is no longer a hydrocarbon, and therefore no longer an aliphatic compound. H