Further Extensions:

If this experiment has been paired with the microscale bulk polymerization of styrene and the reactions run at various concentrations of initiator, then the relationship between molecular weight in a free radical polymerization and the concentration of the initiator can be derived. Have students prepare a variety of plots in an attempt to derive the relationship between molecular weight in a free radical polymerization and the initiator concentration. Similarly, if the reactions are run at different temperatures or for a different length of time, then the effect of these changes on the molecular weight also can be examined.

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