What is Aliphatic Hydrocarbon?
Halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons are organic compounds in which one or more hydrogen atoms have been substituted with a halogen atom (i.e., fluorinated, chlorinated, brominated or iodized).
Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons are a heterogeneous class of organic compounds with an open-chain structure and variable numbers of single, double, and triple bonds.
Aliphatic derives from the Greek word aleiphar, which means “fat.” It is used to describe hydrocarbons derived from the chemical decomposition of oils and fats.
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Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Definition
An aliphatic compound or aliphatic hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon atoms linked in chains by single, double, or triple bonds.
Occasionally, the chains also take the form of branched trains or non-aromatic structures. Notably, in addition to hydrogen, other elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur may be attached to the carbon atoms in the chain.
Saturated and Unsaturated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
Both saturated and unsaturated aliphatic compounds are possible. The majority of saturated hydrocarbons are alkanes, which are open-chain hydrocarbons with a single carbon-carbon bond. The majority of the time, the bond exists as a covalent bond. These substances are inert and do not react readily with acids, bases, or other reagents.
Unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules have at least one double bond, allowing for the addition of additional hydrogen atoms. These molecules are significantly more reactive than unsaturated molecules. Due to the fact that the double bond is less than twice as strong as a single bond, it is easier to break a double bond apart than to break a single bond.
Molecular hydrocarbons that lack double bonds are termed saturated. This simply means that the molecule contains the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, and no more can be added. Alkenes and alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbons with one carbon-carbon double bond and one carbon-carbon triple bond, respectively. Unsaturated hydrocarbons are more reactive than saturated hydrocarbons, and their carbon-hydrogen bonds typically contain fewer hydrogen atoms.
Properties of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
- The vast majority of aliphatic hydrocarbons are flammable. These substances are utilized as fuels.
- Aliphatic compounds can be either cyclic or acyclic, meaning that their molecules can contain either carbon chains or carbon rings.
- Boiling point and melting point – Due to the negligible difference in electronegativity between carbon and hydrogen, the bond between them is only very weakly polar. When a chain branches, the area of contact decreases. Therefore, if two alkanes have the same molecular weight, the one with the greater degree of branching will have a lower boiling point. Similarly, the melting points of aliphatic hydrocarbons increase with increasing size, albeit in a less regular fashion.
- Solubility and density – Since nonpolar hydrocarbons are typically insoluble in water and other polar solvents, they have a high density. They prefer non-polar solvents such as benzene and diethyl ether for dissolution. Therefore, hydrocarbons are either hydrophobic or lipophilic. Because hydrocarbons are less dense than water, they float on the water’s surface.
Examples and List of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
| Number of Carbons | Aliphatic Hydrocarbons |
| 1 | methane |
| 2 | ethane, ethene, ethyne |
| 3 | propane, propene, propyne, cyclopropane |
| 4 | Methylpropane, butane, cyclobutene |
| 5 | cyclopentene, pentane, dimethylpropane, |
| 6 | hexane, cyclohexene, cyclohexane |
| 7 | cycloheptane, cycloheptene, heptane |
| 8 | octane, cyclooctane, cyclooctene |
Extraction of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
Pressurized Fluid Extraction (PFE) is a technique for extracting aliphatic compounds using organic and aqueous extraction solvents. It is also possible to extract aliphatic hydrocarbons from solid and semi-solid environmental samples by converting water to hot steam.
The use of aliphatic hydrocarbons as solvents in conventional flame spectrometry has been minimal. As solvents, pentane, methyl cyclopentane, and cyclohexane have been evaluated for nickel determination in an oxygen cyanogen flame. Although excellent sensitivity was obtained when pentane was used in AAS, these solvents did not appear to provide any notable benefits.
As possible solvents for the AFS determination of beryllium, heptane, cyclohexane, and cyclohexene have been investigated. In both oxygen and nitrogen oxide acetylene solutions. Occasionally, aliphatic hydrocarbons are used as diluents for other solvents.
Frequently Asked Questions/ FAQS
Q.1 What is aliphatic hydrocarbon used for?
Numerous aliphatic compounds are combustible, necessitating the use of hydrocarbons as fuel, including methane in Bunsen burners, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and ethylene (acetylene) in welding.
Q.2 Is benzene aliphatic or aromatic?
Both compounds are aromatic and aliphatic in nature. This is a typical chemical structure of aromatic compounds containing benzene rings, consisting of six carbon atoms bonded cyclically with alternating double bonds. In contrast, benzene rings are not aliphatic.
Q.3 Is alcohol an aliphatic compound?
Aliphatic compounds, such as hexane, are not limited to carbon and hydrogen. They can also contain atoms similar to oxygen. Isopropanol is an example of a compound with an alcohol (OH) group attached to an aliphatic carbon chain.
Q.4 are the 4 types of hydrocarbons?
Hydrocarbons refer to organic compounds composed of only hydrogen and carbon. This description encompasses four classes of hydrocarbons: alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatics.
Q.5 Is aliphatic hydrocarbon dangerous?
The tendency of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons to “crack” when heated to produce poisonous gases (hydrogen chloride and phosgene) that are directly and intensely hazardous to cardio respiratory function, such as carbon tetrachloride, is noteworthy.
Q.6 What products contain hydrocarbons?
Cosmetics dependent on mineral oil, including bath oil, creams, lotions, and makeup removers, contain hydrocarbons. Additionally, there are categories for fuel additives, motor oil, and waterproofing agents.
