open chain

/ˈoʊpən tʃeɪn/
adjective
  1. Describing a chemical compound whose atoms are arranged in a straight or branched line, not in a ring.
    • In organic chemistry, an open-chain molecule has a linear structure rather than a cyclic one.
    • Open-chain hydrocarbons are often called aliphatic compounds.
    • The open-chain form of glucose can convert into a ring structure in solution.
Antonyms
What does "open chain" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean