Ionization Processes

Ionization is the process where an atom or molecule loses or gains electrons, which creates positively or negatively charged particles called ions. In the context of atomic collisions, when two particles collide with enough energy, one may transfer energy to the other, knocking an electron out of its orbit. This event transforms the neutral atom into a positively charged ion. Ionization is crucial in fields like chemistry and physics, impacting reactions, the behavior of gases, and the formation of plasma, which is essential in technologies like fluorescent lights and lasers.