chain explosion

chemistry

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June 24, 2026

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A chain explosion in chemistry is a self-sustaining process where the products of a reaction initiate further reactions of the same kind. This occurs when the number of reactive intermediates, such as atoms or free radicals, increases with each step of the reaction. This rapid increase in intermediates causes the reaction rate to accelerate dramatically, sometimes leading to an explosion.12

Chain explosions are distinct from thermal explosions, which are caused by a rapid rise in temperature that accelerates the reaction rate beyond the rate of heat loss. While both can lead to explosions, chain explosions are driven by the auto-acceleration of the reaction chain itself.34

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combustion
Chain-branch reactions
…case, what is called a chain explosion will occur when the probabilities of chain branching and of termination are equal. Usually, however, explosions are of a chain-thermal nature (i.e., both heat accumulation and chain auto-acceleration contribute to explosion).
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…case, what is called a chain explosion will occur when the probabilities of chain branching and of termination are equal. Usually, however, explosions are of a chain-thermal nature (i.e., both heat accumulation and chain auto-acceleration contribute to explosion).
Read More