closed chain

6.9

A ring of atoms joined in a molecule to form a loop

noun

Specialized

: cadena cerrada

In organic chemistry, a cyclohexane is an example of a closed chain structure where the carbon atoms are arranged in a ring.

Examples

A closed chain in a molecule ensures that all the atoms form a continuous loop, enhancing its stability.
The closed chain configuration of this compound allows for unique chemical properties that differ from its open-chain counterparts.
So if you have a closed chain, a Polygon of total length.
And its seemingly compelling nature no doubt owes much to its gestalt, to its being a closed chain in which each individual link appears to gain strength from the fact that it is part of a whole circle: the chain curiously appears to be stronger than any of its links.

Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

ring

vsclosed chain

501 2.8

A round shape or area that goes around something

describes a chemical sequence of atoms joined into a loop not an open form

Antonyms

open chain

Specialized

7.2

A chain of atoms in a molecule whose ends do not join to make a ring

Surface Forms

closed chain singular

closed chains plural

Morphology

closed + chain

The sense 'a chain that forms a closed loop or ring' is directly and compositionally derived from 'closed' (not open; forming a loop) modifying 'chain' (a linked sequence). This modifier+noun pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the meaning even if they lack specialized chemistry knowledge.

Etymology

The term closed chain comes from the image of a chain whose ends are joined to make a closed 'loop' or 'ring'. In chemistry, that picture helps: the atoms are like the chain links, and when the ends meet the atoms form a loop, so a closed chain means the atoms are connected in a ring rather than an open line.