Radical chain reaction
= Radical chain reaction
A <radical chain reaction> regenerates a <radical (chemistry)> during propagation. Initiation supplies <free radicals>; propagation consumes one and produces another; termination removes chain-carrying <free radicals>. This explains why one initiating event can lead to many product-forming <chemical reactions>. The <chain-growth polymerization> article develops the corresponding growth of <polymers>.