Homologous Series
AQA A-Level Chemistry
3.3.1
Organic compounds can be grouped into families that share similar structures and chemical behaviour, making it easier to recognise patterns across a wide range of molecules. Building on the different representations introduced in chemical formulae, we can now explore homologous series and functional groups and how they are used to classify organic compounds. This provides the context needed for nomenclature, where these structural features become essential for naming organic compounds systematically.
In this topic you will:
- Explain how functional groups are used to classify organic compounds.
- Describe the key characteristics of homologous series.
- Identify functional groups within displayed, structural and skeletal formulae.
- Classify compounds into the correct homologous series.
- Recognise homologous series from their general formulae, prefixes and suffixes.
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