Rate of Polycondensation Formula:
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Definition: Rate of Polycondensation is the rate at which the reaction proceeds between monomers containing two or more reactive functional groups (e.g., hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino) condensing with each other.
Purpose: This calculator helps determine the rate of polycondensation reactions which are crucial in polymer chemistry for producing materials like polyesters and polyamides.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The rate depends on the rate constant and is proportional to the square of diacid concentration and directly proportional to diol concentration.
Details: Accurate rate calculation is essential for controlling polymer molecular weight, reaction time, and final product properties in industrial polymer synthesis.
Tips: Enter the rate constant (default 0.1 1/s), diacid concentration (default 7 mol/m³), and diol concentration (default 6 mol/m³). All values must be > 0.
Q1: Why is the diacid concentration squared in the formula?
A: The reaction is second-order with respect to diacid concentration, meaning the rate depends on the square of its concentration.
Q2: What are typical values for the rate constant?
A: Rate constants vary widely but are typically in the range of 0.01 to 1 1/s depending on temperature and specific monomers.
Q3: How does temperature affect the rate?
A: The rate constant increases exponentially with temperature according to the Arrhenius equation.
Q4: Can this be used for other polycondensation reactions?
A: The exact formula may vary for different systems, but similar principles apply to most step-growth polymerizations.
Q5: What units should be used for concentrations?
A: Concentrations should be in moles per cubic meter (mol/m³) for consistency with SI units.