A large number of nuclear fissions, taking place within a certain mass of a fissionable isotope, that release a great quantity of energy in a short time.

A chain of events described by W. Edwards Deming: improve quality, decrease costs, improve productivity, increase market with better quality and lower price, stay in business, provide jobs and provide [..]

Self-perpetuating reaction. In a fission chain reaction, a fissile nucleus absorbs a neutron, splits and simultaneously releases several neutrons (in the case of U-235 an average of 2.46). These neutr [..]

A self-sustaining nuclear reaction, made possible when neutrons released by fission of some atoms in a nuclear reactor strike other atoms, causing them to fission as well.

series of events where the previous event causes the next event.

Set of reactions in which a reactive component (usually a free radical) is continuously regenerated, enabling the reactions to occur many times before being terminated. A typical chain reaction consis [..]

A reaction that initiates its own repetition. In a fission chain reaction, a fissionable nucleus absorbs a neutron and fissions spontaneously, releasing additional neutrons. These, in turn, can be absorbed by other fissionable nuclei, releasing still more neutrons. A fission chain reaction is self-sustaining when the number of neutrons released in [..]

A process taking place in an atomic bomb or nuclear reactor in which one fission event releases neutrons and energy. The neutrons in turn produce more fissions releasing more energy and forming a chai [..]

A process in which neutrons are absorbed by fissionable material and the neutrons released as a result of fission go on to cause more fissions.  A self-sustaining chain reaction is one where the numbe [..]

  Polymerisation initiated by the bonding of a free radical with a monomer.

A reaction that stimulates its own repetition, in particular where the neutrons originating from nuclear fission cause an ongoing series of fission reactions.

Occurs when each fission event causes at least one more fission event.

A process in which one nuclear transformation sets up conditions for a similar nuclear transformation in another nearby atom. Thus, when fission occurs in uranium atoms, neutrons are released, which in turn may produce fission in other uranium atoms.

A reaction in which the material or energy that starts the reaction is also one of the products and can cause similar reactions.

A self-sustaining reaction where some of the products are able to produce more reactions of the same kind; in a nuclear chain reaction neutrons are the products that produce more nuclear reactions in [..]

a process that initiates its own repetition. In a fission chain reaction, a fissile nucleus absorbs a neutron and fissions (splits) spontaneously, releasing additional neutrons. These, in turn, can be [..]

(1) See nuclear chain reaction (2) Chemical chain reaction: a sequence of chemical reactions.

A reaction that is self-sustaining. In a fission chain reaction, the nucleus of a fissionable atom (see definition for fissionable material) absorbs a neutron and fissions (i.e., breaks apart), releas [..]

(physics) A nuclear reaction in which particles produced by the fission of one atom trigger fissions of other atoms.

A rapid series of nuclear reactions triggered by the release of neutrons during fission; can be controlled or uncontrolled (Lesson 25)

(n.) A self-sustaining change in which one or more products of one event cause one or more new events. Index: A to F | G to L | M to R | S to Z

The nuclei of uranium-235 atoms are bombarded by neutrons in order to induce a nuclear fission reaction. Some of these nuclei split into two smaller nuclei, releasing heat and radiation. This radiatio [..]

A self-sustaining series of fissions which occur when a neutron splits an atom, releasing sufficient neutrons to cause many other atoms to split in the same way.

 "A process in which neutrons are absorbed by fissionable material and the neutrons released as a result of fission go on to cause more fissions.  A self-sustaining chain reaction is one where the number of neutrons released from fission in one period of time (or generation) is enough to cause the same number of fissions in the following gener [..]

A reaction in which one or more reactive reaction intermediates (frequently radicals) are continuously regenerated, usually through a repetitive cycle of elementary steps (the "propagation step"). For example, in the chlorination of methane by a radical mechanism, Cl. is continuously regenerated in the chain propagation steps: Cl. + CH4 H [..]

When a reaction provides the agents for a subsequent reaction.

repeated fission caused when the neutrons released in fission bombard other atoms.

Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry Chain reaction: A reaction whose mechanism includes one or more steps that are repeated indefinitely, until the chain is terminated, or reactants are used up. [..]

A DNA amplification technique based upon the Ligation of Oligonucleotide Probes. The probes are designed to exactly match two adjacent sequences of a specific target DNA. The chain reaction is repeate [..]

A really dodgy film starring Keanu Reeves. Also, a mechanism that has no reason to stop, since the product is just as reactive as the reactants.

Any self-sustaining molecular or nuclear reaction, the products of which contribute to the propagation of the reaction.