Aliphatic

A major class of organic compounds where carbon and hydrogen molecules are arranged in straight or branched chains. A type of hydrocarbon. Includes alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.

From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

Al`i*phat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;, &?;, oil, fat.] (Org. Chem.)

Of, pertaining to, or derived from, fat; fatty; -- applied to compounds having an openc-hain structure. The aliphatic compounds thus include not only the fatty acids and other derivatives of the paraffin hydrocarbons, but also unsaturated compounds, as the ethylene and acetylene series.

© Webster 1913