Ionization Energy

Real World Example

Imagine trying to convince a cat to move from its cozy spot on your lap. Getting the cat to budge is similar to the process of removing an electron from an atom; both require a certain amount of energy or effort to separate something from its comfortable state. Just as the warmth of your lap makes the cat reluctant to leave, the energy holding the electron close to the nucleus requires a specific amount of energy input—known as ionization energy—to overcome this attraction.