What is the main method of extinguishing a chain reaction?

The most effective method for extinguishing a chain reaction involves using the inhibition method. This method works by interrupting the ongoing chemical reactions that sustain the fire or combustion process. Inhibitors are substances that can effectively compete with the fuel or reactants in the reaction, thereby reducing the rate of reaction or breaking the chain reaction altogether.

Inhibitor substances can include specific chemicals that, when introduced into the environment of the fire, can stop or slow down the chemical reactions responsible for sustaining it. By neutralizing the reactive components, the fire can be effectively extinguished.

Other methods, such as cooling, smothering, or displacement, can be helpful in certain situations, but they do not specifically target the chain reaction itself. Cooling involves lowering the temperature to prevent combustion, smothering eliminates the oxygen available for combustion, and displacement removes the fuel or oxygen. However, these methods may not be as effective in directly stopping the ongoing chemical processes that sustain the fire as using inhibition techniques, making the inhibition method the primary choice for extinguishing a chain reaction.