Complete the following sentence: Substances within the same homologous series have the same ______ ; Your answer here;properties.

Substances within the same homologous series have the same functional properties.

In organic chemistry, a homologous series is a group of compounds that share a common structural feature and exhibit similar chemical properties due to the presence of a functional group. Members of a homologous series differ from one another by a fixed unit, typically a CH₂ group. For example, in the alcohol series, all compounds contain the hydroxyl (-OH) functional group, which gives them similar chemical reactivity. This shared characteristic leads to comparable physical properties, like boiling and melting points, as well as similar chemical properties, including reactions with acids and bases. Understanding these similarities aids in predicting the behavior of compounds within the series, making them easier to study and categorize in chemistry.