From this table of the functional groups one recognizes that any transformation between columns must involve a redox process whereas transformations between rows can be accomplished by acid/base processes. It forms a scaffolding on to which we can hang our knowledge of reactivity, and at the same time it prepares us to think of yet unseen transformations on the basis of how those transformations might be effected. This abstraction of chemical structure into a focused relationship of functional group types can be one the most powerful tools for understanding and simplifying organic chemical reactivity
