Ionization
/ˌaɪ.ə.naɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/noun
The process of converting an atom or molecule into an ion by gaining or losing electrons.
Did you know?The term was built from Greek ἰών (iōn), meaning “going” or “one that goes,” and in physics it came to describe particles set loose with an electrical charge.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἰών (iōn)
“going; one that goes”
Late 19th Century
English
ion
“a charged particle formed from an atom or molecule”
Late 19th Century
English
ionize
“to convert into ions”
Early 20th Century
English
ionization
“the act or process of ionizing”