Process by which atoms or molecules acquire charge by gaining or losing electrons
"Ionisation" redirects here. For the musical composition, see Ionisation (Varèse).
Ionization (or ionisation specifically in Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) is the process by which an atom or a molecule acquires a negative or positive charge by gaining or losing electrons, often in conjunction with other chemical changes. The resulting electrically charged atom or molecule is called an ion. Ionization can result from the loss of an electron after collisions with subatomic particles, collisions with other atoms, molecules, electrons, positrons,[1]protons, antiprotons[2] and ions,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] or through the interaction with electromagnetic radiation. Heterolytic bond cleavage and heterolytic substitution reactions can result in the formation of ion pairs. Ionization can occur through radioactive decay by the internal conversion process, in which an excited nucleus transfers its energy to one of the inner-shell electrons causing it to be ejected.
^Machacek, J.R.; McEachran, R.P.; Stauffer, A.D. (2023). "Positron Collisions". Springer Handbook of Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. Springer Handbooks. Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73893-8_51. ISBN978-3-030-73892-1.
^Stolterfoht, N; DuBois, R.D.; Rivarola, R.D. (1997). Electron Emission in Heavy Ion-Atom Collisions. Springer-Verlag. ISBN978-3-642-08322-8.
^McGuire, J.H. (1997). Electron correlation dynamics in atomic collisions. Cambridge University Press. ISBN9780521480208.
^Eichler, J. (2005). Lectures on Ion-Atom Collisions: From Nonrelativistic to Relativistic Velocities. Elsevier. ISBN9780444520470.
^Bransden, B.H.; McDowell, M.R.C. (1992). Charge Exchange and the Theory of Ion-Atom Collisions. Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press. ISBN9780198520207.