A mathematical model to describe the formation of n-butanol during the synthesis of n-butyl acrylate containing latex and during its storage is presented. The model accounts for the formation of n-butanol through a mechanism described in a previous work (Goikoetxea et al. J Polym Sci Part A: PolymChera 2007, 45, 5838) which involves the formation of tertiary radicals in the polymer backbone. During polymerization these radicals were formed by backbiting, whereas during storage, radicals formed from unreacted initiator were responsible of the formation of the tertiary radicals.(c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.