When in a
chain reaction there is a net increase in the number of
chain carriers there is said to be chain branching. A simple example of a
chain-propagating reaction leading to chain branching is:
in which there is one
chain carrier (an oxygen atom) on the left and two chain carriers (a hydrogen atom and a hydroxyl radical) on the right.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149
(A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 156
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
