Term: transient phase (induction period) https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06450 Definition: This expression relates to the period of time that elapses prior to the establishment of a steady state. Initially the concentration of a reactive intermediate is zero, and it rises to the steady-state concentration during the transient phase. Related Terms: 1) steady state (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05962). Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 189 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149) Citation: 'transient phase (induction period)' 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.T06450 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.