Thermal ionization

Thermal ionization is a process in which an atom or molecule becomes ionized, meaning it loses one or more of its electrons, due to thermal energy (heat). This phenomenon typically occurs at elevated temperatures where the kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules is sufficient to overcome the ionization energy, which is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom. In thermal ionization, as the temperature increases, the atoms gain additional thermal energy, which can facilitate the ionization process.