large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb_38
large/12904/worldswithinworlds_v1-3_1904_librivox_64kb_mp3/worldswithinworlds_02_asimov_64kb
English
12904
Such a situation, in which each reacting bit of the system adds energy to the system by its reaction and brings about more reactions like itself, is called a "chain reaction". SUCH A SITUATION IN WHICH EACH REACTING BIT OF THE SYSTEM ADDS ENERGY TO THE SYSTEM BY ITS REACTION AND BRINGS ABOUT MORE REACTIONS LIKE ITSELF IS CALLED A CHAIN REACTION
drogen and oxygen must be separated and that takes a little energy. The energy in a match flame is enough to raise the temperature of the mixture and to make the hydrogen and oxygen molecules move about more rapidly and more energetically. This increases the chance that some molecules will be broken up into separate atoms (though the actual process is rather complicated). An oxygen atom might then strike a hydrogen molecule to form water (O + H₂ → H₂O) and more energy is given off than was absorbed from the match flame. The temperature goes up still higher so that further breakup among the oxygen and hydrogen molecules is encouraged. [Illustration: _The formation of a sodium chloride molecule._] This happens over and over again so that in very little time, the temperature is very high and the hydrogen and oxygen are combining to form water at an enormous rate. If a great deal of hydrogen and oxygen are well-mixed to begin with, the rate of reaction is so great that an explosion occurs.  A WAY AS TO FORM WATER JUST MIXING THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN IS NOT ENOUGH THE MOLECULES OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN MUST BE SEPARATED AND THAT TAKES A LITTLE ENERGY THE ENERGY IN A MATCH FLAME IS ENOUGH TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MIXTURE AND MAKE THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN MOLECULES MOVE ABOUT MORE RAPIDLY AND MORE ENERGETICALLY THIS INCREASES THE CHANCE THAT SOME MOLECULES WILL BE BROKEN UP INTO SEPARATE ATOMS THOUGH THE ACTUAL PROCESS IS RATHER COMPLICATED AN OXYGEN ATOM MIGHT THEN STRIKE A HYDROGEN MOLECULE TO FORM WATER AND MORE ENERGY IS GIVEN OFF THAN WAS ABSORBED FROM THE MATCH FLAME THE TEMPERATURE GOES UP STILL HIGHER SO THAT FURTHER BREAK UP AMONG OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN MOLECULES IS ENCOURAGED THIS HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO THAT IN A VERY LITTLE TIME THE TEMPERATURE IS VERY HIGH AND THE HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ARE COMBINING TO FORM WATER AT AN ENORMOUS RATE IF A GREAT DEAL OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ARE WELL MIXED TO BEGIN WITH THE RATE OF REACTION IS SO GREAT THAT AN EXPLOSION OCCURS
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