noun
- a chemical reaction in which one of the products acts as a catalyst to speed up the reaction itself
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- Autocatalysis plays a key role in many industrial chemical processes.
- The reaction exhibits autocatalysis, meaning the product accelerates its own formation.
- In autocatalysis, the catalyst is generated by the reaction it catalyzes.
- Autocatalytic reactions can show a characteristic S-shaped growth curve over time.
- The fermentation process involves autocatalysis, where ethanol produced helps speed up further fermentation.