Homologous series

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In organic chemistry, a homologous series is a series of compounds with the same functional
group and similar chemical properties in which the members of the series differ by the number of
repeating units they contain.[1] This can be the length of a carbon chain,[1] for example in the straight-
chained alkanes (paraffins), or it could be the number of monomers in a homopolymer such
as amylose.[2]
Compounds within a homologous series typically have a fixed set of functional groups that gives
them similar chemical and physical properties. (For example, the series of primary straight-chained
alcohols has a hydroxyl at the end of the carbon chain.) These properties typically change gradually
along the series, and the changes can often be explained by mere differences in molecular size and
mass. The name "homologous series" is also often used for any collection of compounds that have
similar structures or include the same functional group, such as the general alkanes (straight and
branched), the alkenes (olefins), the carbohydrates, etc. However, if the members cannot be
arranged in a linear order by a single parameter, the collection may be better called a "chemical
family" or "class of homologous compounds" than a "series".
The concept of homologous series was proposed in 1843 by the French chemist Charles Gerhardt.
[3]
A homologation reaction is a chemical process that converts one member of a homologous series
to the next member.