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What is meant by a homologous series ? State the two characteristics of a homologous series. |
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Answer» Solution :Though the length of the carbon chains in carbon compounds is different, their chemical properties are very much similar due to the presence of the same functionalgroup in them. The series of compounds formed by joining the same functional group in place of a particlular hydrogen atom on the chains having sequentially increasing length is called a homologous series. Two adjacement members of the series differ by only one `-CH_(2)-` (methylene) unit and their masses differ by 14 units. The homologous SERIESOF straight CHAIN alkanes can be represented by the general formula `C_(n)H_(2n+2).`The members of this series are as follows :  Characteristics of homologous series : (1) In homologousseries while going in an increasingorder of the length of carbon chain (a) one methylene unit `(-CH_(2)-)` gets added(b) molecular mass increases by 14 u (c) number of carbon ATOMS increases by one. (2) Chemical properties of members of a homologous series show similarity due to the presence of the same functional group in them.(3) Each member of the homologous series can be represented by the same general molecular formula. (4) While going in an increasing order of the length there is gradation in the physicalproperties i.e. the boiling and melting points. |
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