Active-centre chain-growth polymerization
In chain-growth polymerization, monomer addition regenerates a growing active centre.
Key knowledge
In chain-growth polymerization, monomer addition regenerates a growing active centre. Radical, cationic and anionic routes have different initiation and chain-carrying chemistry, so monomer substitution and conditions affect which route is suitable. Termination consumes an active centre and ends that chain; combination of two radical chains is one termination mechanism.
Conditions and scope
- A catalyst or initiator label alone does not determine a unique molecular-weight distribution or architecture.
- Not every vinyl monomer can be polymerized efficiently by every active-centre mechanism.
Sources · 2
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
John McMurry — OpenStax, Rice University2 sources
Evidence and review
Read 31.1 regenerated radical/ionic chain-centre examples and 8.10 initiation, propagation and combination termination paragraphs and equation. Excluded propene/isobutene naming typo, commercial-polystyrene-route universality and a universal secondary-radical exclusivity assertion.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All 94 actual compact claims, hypotheses, equation/variable/unit tables and 176 origin semantic links independently read. All exact author source-binding rows and disclosed extents assessed; targeted original bodies or specifically identified indexed primary passages rechecked below. All retained chemistry compact records read for combined breadth. Independent AI editorial content and practical common-core inventory review; no human specialist, degree/laboratory proficiency, whole-textbook certification or experimental replication. Receipt: chemistry-independent-content-inventory-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- uni-chem-chain-growth-polymerization
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion