What is the process of turning an atom or molecule into an ion by adding or removing charged particles called?

The process of turning an atom or molecule into an ion by adding or removing charged particles is called ionization. This occurs when an electron is gained or lost, resulting in a charged species. For example, when an atom loses an electron, it becomes positively charged, forming a cation. Conversely, gaining an electron leads to the formation of an anion, which carries a negative charge.

Ionization is a fundamental concept in chemistry, particularly in understanding how substances interact in chemical reactions, form bonds, or participate in electrical conductivity. It distinguishes itself from other processes such as dissociation, which refers to the separation of a compound into its individual ions or molecules in a solution, and ionic bonding, which involves the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions. Electrolysis, on the other hand, is an electrical process used to drive a chemical reaction that typically involves the ionization of a substance in a solution. Thus, ionization specifically focuses on the formation of ions by the gain or loss of electrons.