What is meant by ionization potential?

Ionization potential, also known as ionization energy, refers to the energy required to remove an electron from a neutral atom or molecule, thereby converting it into a positively charged ion. This energy is a fundamental concept in chemistry and physics that helps to understand how atoms interact and form bonds.

When enough energy is provided to overcome the attraction between the negatively charged electron and the positively charged nucleus, the electron can be removed. The amount of energy needed varies among different elements and is influenced by factors such as the electron's distance from the nucleus and the overall electron configuration of the atom.

Higher ionization potentials typically indicate that it is more difficult to remove an electron, which can be related to the stability of the electronic configuration. For example, noble gases have high ionization potentials because their electron configurations are stable.

In summary, the definition of ionization potential aligns with the energy required to strip an atom or molecule of an electron, making this the correct choice.