12.

3 FUNCTIONAL
GROUPS AND
HOMOLOGOUS SERIES

Lecture 3
Functiona Grou! an" Ho#oo$ou% Serie%
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson the students should be
able to :

Define functional group.

Name functional groups and classify organic

compounds according to their functional
groups.

Define homologous series and explain general

characteristics of its members.

Functiona $rou!

is an atom or group of atoms in an

organic molecule which characterised
the molecule and enables it to react in
specific ways which determines its
chemical properties.

Functional groups are important for

three reasons:

i. A basic by which organic compounds
are divided into different classes.
ii. A basic for naming organic compounds
iii. A particular functional group will
always undergo similar types of
chemical reactions.

Ho#oo$ou% Serie%

is series of compounds where each

member differs from the next member by
a constant !"
#
unit

$embers of the same homologous

series are called homologs.

Ho#oo$% Feature%
%. Obey a general formula:
&xamples:
Al'ane: !
n
"
#n
(
#
Al'ene: !
n
"
#n
Alcohol : !
n
"
#n(%
O"
#. Differ from the successive homolog by a !"
#
unit
). *how a gradual change in the physical properties

+. "ave same functional group
,. "ave similar chemical properties
-. !an be prepared by similar general methods

!"
)
! !!"
)
carbon.carbon
triple bond .! !.
Al'yne
!"
)
!"/!"
#
carbon.carbon
double bond
.!/!.
Al'ene
!"
)
.!"
)
Al'ane
&xample
Name
*tructure
!lass of
!ompound
Functional 0roup
Classification of organic compound

Aromatic 1en2ene ring .!"
)
"aloal'ane 3 4F5 !l5 1r5 67 "alogen !"
)
!l
Alcohol .O" "ydroxyl !"
)
.O"
8henol .O" "ydroxyl .O"
&ther .!.O.!. Al'oxide !"
)
.O.!"
)

Aldehyde
.!/O
" !arbonyl
!"
)
.!/O
"
9etone
:.!/O
: !arbonyl
!"
)
.!/O
!"
)
!arboxylic
acid
.!/O
O" !arboxyl
!"
)
.!/O
O"
&ster
.!.O.!.
O !arboal'oxy
!"
)
.!/O
O!"
)


Acyl chloride
.!/O
!l
!"
)
.!/O
!l

Anhydride
O O
.!.O.!.
O O
!"
)
!.O.!!"
)
Amide .!/O
N.
!arboxamide !"
)
.!/O
N"
#
Amine .N"
#
Amino !"
)
.N"
#
Nitrile .! N !yano group !"
)
! N

&xercises:
%. 6dentify the functional group in the following
molecules
a74!"
)
7
)
!!"
#
!"/!"
#
b74!"
)
7
)
!!"/!"!"
#
.O"

!"
)
!
!"
)
! !
!" ! N"
#
O
N"
#
!"
!"
#
!"
#
!
O
O"
O"
!
O
O !"
)
!"
#
!
O
O !
O
!"
)
c7