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A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions: A causes B, which causes C, etc.In particular, one of the agents necessary to the reaction may itself be produced by the reaction, thus causing additional reactions.
Examples:
- The neutron- fission chain reaction, a neutron plus a fissionable atom causes a fission resulting in a number of neutrons which in turn cause other fissions.
- Chemical chain reactions, where large molecules (e.g., plastic polymers, nucleic acids) are products.
See also: nuclear chain reaction, polymerase chain reaction
