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What is the homologous series of hydrocarbons?

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What is the homologous series of Hydrocarbons

 

What do you mean by homologous series?

Homologous series

  1. Organic compounds are grouped into different homologous series. Alkanes form a homologous series and so do alkenes.
  2. A homologous series is a group or family of organic compounds that has certain characteristics:
    (a) Members of the series can be represented by a general formula.
    (b) Successive members differ from each other by –CH2.
    (c) Physical properties change gradually with increasing number of carbon atoms per molecule.
    (d) Members have similar chemical properties because they have the same functional group.
    (e) Members can be prepared by similar methods.
  3. A functional group is a special group of atoms attached to an organic molecule. This group of atoms determines the chemical properties of the molecule because it represents the most common site of chemical reactivity. Chemical reactions occur at the functional group.
  4. Table shows the functional groups of various homologous series.

What is the homologous series of hydrocarbons 1
There is another classification based on Homologous series.
The series of carbon compounds in which two successive compounds differ by –CH2 unit is called homologous series.
Eg: 1) CH4, C2H6, C3H8 …
2) CH3OH, C2H5OH, C3H7OH …
If you observe above series of compounds, you will notice that each compound in the series differs by –CH2 unit by its successive compound.
Homologous series of organic compounds have following characteristic features.
1) They have one general formula.
Eg: alkanes (CnH2n+2); alkynes(CnH2n-2); alcohols (CnH2n+1)OH etc.
2) Successive compounds in the series possess a difference of (-CH2) unit.
3) They possess similar chemical properties due to the same functional group
Eg: alcohols, aldehydes and carboxylic acids have functional groups C–OH, C–CHO and C-COOH respectively.
4) They show a regular gradation in their physical properties (see the table-1).
For example: we may take alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids etc. as homologous series. The individual members of a homologous series are called homologs.
Observe the following tables 1, 2 and 3. They represent three different homologous series.

What is the homologous series of hydrocarbons 2
The general formula of this homologous series Alkanes is CnH2n+2, where n = 1,2,3…

What is the homologous series of hydrocarbons 3
Alkenes have general molecular formula CnH2n, where ‘n’ is 2, 3, 4, …

What is the homologous series of hydrocarbons 4
Alkynes have general molecular formula CnH2n-2, where ‘n’ is 2, 3, 4, …
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