https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03183
The generation of one or more ions. It may occur, e.g. by loss of an electron from a neutral @[email protected], by the @[email protected] of such an entity into two or more ions, or by a heterolytic @[email protected] involving neutral molecules, such as:
I03183-1.png
I03183-2.png
I03183-3.png
The loss of an electron from a singly, doubly, etc. charged @[email protected] is called second, third, etc. ionization. This terminology is used especially in @[email protected]See also:
dissociation
, ionization energy