What are the steps involved in free radical chain reactions?

Free radical chain reactions consist of a series of steps that contribute to the overall mechanism of the reaction. The correct answer identifies these steps as initiation, propagation, and termination.

During the initiation stage, free radicals are generated, typically through the breaking of covalent bonds via heat or light, creating highly reactive species that can initiate the chain reaction.

Next, in the propagation stage, these free radicals react with stable molecules to produce new radicals and more products. This step repeats, as the newly formed radicals can continue to react, leading to the propagation of the reaction and resulting in the formation of larger products.

Finally, in the termination stage, two free radicals can combine to form a stable product, which effectively stops the chain reaction as it reduces the number of active radicals.

These steps highlight the dynamic nature of free radical chain reactions and illustrate the transformation from reactive intermediates to more stable products, which is key to understanding processes such as polymerization and combustion. The other choices presented do not accurately represent the stages in a free radical chain mechanism, as they refer to unrelated processes or incorrect terminologies.