A Level Physics Practice Exam

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What does ionisation involve in an atom?

An electron is added to a neutral atom
An electron is removed from a neutral atom
A proton is removed from a neutral atom
An atom gains a neutron

The correct answer is: An electron is removed from a neutral atom

Ionisation involves the process where an electron is removed from a neutral atom. When an atom is neutral, it has an equal number of protons and electrons. By removing an electron, the balance of charge is disrupted, resulting in a positively charged ion, also known as a cation. This process requires energy to overcome the electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged electron and the positively charged nucleus. In contrast, adding an electron would lead to the formation of a negatively charged ion, not ionisation. Removing a proton or a neutron does not fall under the definition of ionisation; protons are responsible for the identity of the element, and neutrons affect the isotope but not its charge. Therefore, the correct understanding of ionisation is centered on the removal of an electron from a neutral atom.