aliphatic

al·i·phat·ic  (l-ftk)

adj.

Of, relating to, or designating a group of organic chemical compounds in which the carbon atoms are linked in open chains.

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[From Greek aleiphar, aleiphat-, oil, from aleiphein, to anoint with oil; see leip- in Indo-European roots.]

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aliphatic

Adjective

Chem (of an organic compound) having an open chain structure [Greek aleiphar oil]

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aliphatic  (l-ftk) Relating to organic compounds whose carbon atoms are linked in open chains, either straight or branched, rather than containing a benzene ring. Alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes are aliphatic compounds. Compare aromatic.

aliphatic a straight chain of carbon atoms of a propane molecule

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

aliphatic - having carbon atoms linked in open chains open-chain, acyclic - having an open chain structure