What is the catalyst and initiator process?

• A. They produce finished polymer chains immediately
• B. They create the instruction for the monomers to join together
• C. They are incompatible and stop the reaction
• D. They degrade the monomers

Answer: (B)

At the heart of polymerization is starting the chain reaction that makes monomers link together. A catalyst or initiator creates the reactive sites or radicals that kick off the joining of monomers, effectively giving the monomers the signal to bond and start building the polymer chain. They don’t produce finished chains right away, and they don’t degrade monomers or halt the reaction; their job is to start and sustain the chain-growth process. That’s why describing them as creating the instruction for the monomers to join is the best fit.