Term: thermal ionization
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06303

Definition:
Takes place when an atom or molecule interacts with a heated surface or is in a gaseous environment at high temperature. Examples of the latter may be a capillary arc plasma, a microwave plasma or an inductively coupled plasma.

Source: Orange Book, 2nd ed., p. 203 (https://media.iupac.org/publications/analytical_compendium/)

Citation: 'thermal ionization' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06303

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.