Question

This mechanism obeys a geometric distribution that flattens until conversion plateaus around 90 percent. In a result that anticipated percolation theory, this mechanism’s products change when alpha is above the reciprocal of “functionality minus one.” A reaction obeying this mechanism is driven is by ethylene release in acyclic diene (“DY-een”) metathesis. (-5[1])This mechanism ideally consumes all starting materials in the first interval and increases (-5[1])average mass exponentially over time. The progress of reactions (-5[1])with this mechanism was related to number-average size by Wallace (-5[1])Carothers (10[2]-5[3])(“kuh-RUH-thers”). Reactions (-5[2])with this mechanism are never “living,” (-5[2])as they will terminate (10[1]-5[1])without aid. (-5[1])This mechanism incorporates heteroatoms (“hetero-atoms”) into molecular backbones and (-5[1])creates polyesters. (10[1])For 10 points, name this mechanism in which oligomers (-5[1])(“oh-LIG-oh-mers”) condense to form polymers, in contrast to a “chain” (10[1])method. (10[4])■END■ (10[9]0[6])

ANSWER: step-growth polymerization [or step polymerization; accept condensation polymerization until “condense” is read; prompt on polymerization until “polymers” is read; prompt on esterification until “polyesters” is read]
<Chemistry>
= Average correct buzz position