Why would the nuke trigger a chain reaction and destroy the planet?

Question

I have heard of this theory a bunch before, but I don’t really understand chemistry of physics enough to make sense of it.

In: 0

Answer 1

That chain reaction is called nuclear fusion and (simplyfiying) occur when two atoms are so so close that all other forces that repel atoms from each other no longer are enough to do so.

Second thing to know is what explosion is. And it is a wave of higher pressure passing through something, in our case air, and that pressure makes that atoms are closer together.

So sciencetist consider that the nuclear blast may trigger fusion reaction in air and that will add to the force of a blast wave and so on till all of gases in earth atmosphere fuse and burn down everything in process