autoionization
/ˌɔːtəʊˌʌɪənʌɪˈzeɪʃn/(also autoionisation)
noun
1 Chemistry. The spontaneous ionization of a substance or molecule; a reaction between two identical neutral molecules, especially in a solution, to produce an anion and a cation.
2 Physics. The spontaneous transition of an atom to an ionized state of lower energy with the emission of an electron (but no emission of radiation).
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Journal of the American Chemical Society. From auto- + ionization.
- fricandeau
- fricassee
- fricative
- fricken
- Frick, Henry Clay
- fricking
- friction
- frictional
- frictional unemployment
- friction clutch
- friction drive
- frictioned
- frictionless
- frictionlessly
- friction tape
- friction welding
- Friday
- Friday-face
- Friday-faced
- Friday fare
- Friday feast
- Friday prayers
- Fridays
- fridge
- fridge-freezer