branching chain reaction
A
chain reaction
which includes a
propagation
step or steps in which there is an increase in the number of active intermediates; for example,
is a branching reaction since one active intermediate (
H
) gives rise to two (
OH
and
O
).
Source:
PAC, 1981,
53
, 753
(Symbolism and terminology in chemical kinetics (Provisional))
on page 762
