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 @M03986@, by the @M03989@ of such an entity into two or more ions, or by a heterolytic @S06078@ 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 @C00907@ is called second, third, etc. ionization. This terminology is used especially in @M03748@.See also:
dissociation
, ionization energy