explosion limit

An explosion limit in chemistry refers to the conditions under which a combustion reaction accelerates to become an explosion. This acceleration can be triggered by a rise in temperature, leading to a thermal explosion, or by an increase in the length of reaction chains, causing a chain explosion.12

In a thermal explosion, heat is released faster than it can dissipate, leading to a rapid temperature increase and explosion. For chain explosions, the rate of chain branching must overcome the rate of chain termination. Detonation, a form of explosion, involves a shock wave that causes self-ignition at supersonic velocities. Detonation is impossible if energy loss from the reaction zone exceeds a certain limit, which is influenced by factors like chemical reaction rates and the size of the explosive material.231