autoionization

American

[aw-toh-ahy-uh-nuh-zey-shuhn] / ˌɔ toʊˌaɪ ə nəˈzeɪ ʃən /

noun

Physics.

Auger effect.

autoionization British

/ ˌɔːtəʊˌaɪənaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

physics the process in which spontaneous decay of excited atoms or molecules results in emission of electrons, rather than photons

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of autoionization

auto- ¹ + ionization ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It can form both the hydronium ion, H3O+, and the hydroxide ion, OH− when it undergoes autoionization:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The ion product of water, Kw is the equilibrium constant for the autoionization reaction:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Liquid water undergoes autoionization to a very slight extent; at 25 °C, approximately two out of every billion water molecules are ionized.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

This may be explained via Le Châtelier’s principle as a left shift in the water autoionization equilibrium resulting from the stress of increased hydronium ion concentration.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Adding these two chemical equations yields the equation for the autoionization for water:

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023