Term: freely jointed chain
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02517

Definition:
A hypothetical linear chain molecule consisting of infinitely thin rectilinear segments uniform in length; each segment can take all orientations in space with equal probability, independently of its neighbours. For models in which the segments are not all uniform in length, the name 'random-walk chain' has been used.

Related Terms:
1) linear chain (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.L03546).
2) probability (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04855).

Source: Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 50 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)

Citation: 'freely jointed chain' 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.F02517

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