Chain reaction

ca:Reacció en cadena de:Kettenreaktion nl:kettingreactie fr:Réaction en chaîne

A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions: A causes B, which causes C, etc.

In particular, one of the agents necessary to the reaction may itself be produced by the reaction, thus causing additional reactions.

Examples:

• The neutron-fission chain reaction, a neutron plus a fissionable atom causes a fission resulting in a number of neutrons which in turn cause other fissions.
• Chemical chain reactions, where large molecules (e.g., plastic polymers, nucleic acids) are products.

See also: nuclear chain reaction, polymerase chain reaction