The minimum amount of the fissile material that is required for sustaining the nuclear chain reaction is termed as the critical mass. The critical mass of any material that is fissile is dependent upon certain factors. These factors include concentration, density, purity, temperature, shape, nuclear properties of the fissile material as well as the composition and the geometry of the system in which the reaction is taking place.
The critical mass is mandatory in order to attain that fission chain reaction which is self-sustaining. These reactions can be sustained when the standard conditions are applied.
