Relating to organic compounds that are not aromatic; containing chains or rings of carbon atoms without the special stability of benzene rings.
From Greek 'aleiphar' (fat/oil) + '-atic' (relating to). Named because early examples were fatty acids; distinguishes non-aromatic from aromatic hydrocarbons.
Aliphatic compounds are everything from cooking oil to plastic wrap, while aromatic ones smell good—chemistry's naming makes sense: fatty things were aliphatic, fragrant things aromatic!
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