Term: chain initiation https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00955 Definition: The process in a chain reaction that is responsible for the formation of a chain carrier. Related Terms: 1) chain reaction (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00960). 2) chain carrier (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00949). Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 156 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149) Citation: 'chain initiation' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.C00955 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.