Poisson distribution

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009069",
  "term": "Poisson distribution",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A discrete probability function that gives the probability of a specific number of independent events happening within a constant-rate process over a defined interval of space or time. In polymer chemistry, it describes the molar-mass distribution for an ideal living polymerization where all chains are initiated simultaneously and grow at the same rate. For such a polymerization, the polydispersity index, which is the ratio of the mass-average to the number-average molar mass, approaches a value of 1.0 as the degree of polymerization becomes large.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "chain length",
    "degree of polymerization",
    "mass-distribution function",
    "relative molecular mass"
  ],
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 56 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/poisson-distribution/"
}