/sci/ - Science & Math

Any chemfags around?

I've spent the past 3 hours researching it, but everything I come across just glazes over the answer -

Why do weak acids catalyze condensation polymerization? (specifically, step-growth)

The reaction I'm looking at involves glycol and phthalic anhydride catalyzed by sodium acetate. I think I understand the overall mechanism - it seems like the anhydride ring breaks, releasing an O, and the alcohol binds to the broken ring, releasing 2H. I just don't see how the addition of sodium acetate affects this at all.

My first hunch was that it acetate ions pulled H off of water molecules to form acetic acid, driving the reaction forward. Not sure if this fully explains it, though.

Wikipedia mentions that the acetate is protonated, which leads to a further reaction between the acid and the alcohol to form an ester and water - this seems like it would shift the equilibrium towards the reactants, though.

Any thoughts, ideas, or research recommendations?

Hey there /sci/!

Any advice for someone about to start college this Fall? I intend on getting a degree in Aerospace Engineering, if that helps.
Thanks in advance for any and all tips/advice.

>wake up to alarm
>it makes me do an triple integral to turn it off
>eating bowl of cheerios
>realize cheerios are in the shape of a protein
>be messing with the protein
>realize this protein is the cure for cancer
>be like holy shit
>go wake my mother up to tell her
>she is like that's nice honey
>publish my paper on protein that cures cancer
>win nobel prize

feelsgoodman.jpg

I was wondering, do you publish any articles while doing your masters degree?

hello /sci/
I have a good idea for a website that could improve the education system, I'm not going to disclose it here though. I'm sure /sci/ people have great ideas too.
>TLDR?
I wanted to make an informational thread on how to build a website, and add features, if any of you are willing to contribute.

Thank you.

It's ok to link to outside sources.

Thank you again.