https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03042
A reaction or process generating free
radicals
(or some other
reactive
reaction intermediates
) which then induce a
chain reaction
. For example, in the chlorination of
alkanes
by a radical mechanism the initiation step is the
dissociation
of molecular chlorine.
Sources:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. (Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)) on page 1125 [Terms] [Paper]
PAC, 1996, 68, 149. (A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)) on page 169 [Terms] [Paper]