Editing Aliphatic compound (section)

== 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>).