Secondary species

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-010632",
  "term": "Secondary species",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "A species formed when a primary species, such as an initiator-derived radical, rearranges or fragments into something that can still start a polymer chain. For example, the tert-butoxyl radical from a peroxide may undergo beta-scission to acetone and a methyl radical, which then initiates polymerization. The term is also applied to a species with its unpaired electron on a secondary carbon, such as the propan-2-yl radical.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "see_also": [
    "primary species"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 2022, 94, 1093. 'Terminology for chain polymerization (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 1125 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2020-1211)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/secondary-species/"
}