An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The number of electrons a neutral atom has lost in an ionizing physical process (radiation, shock, collision). In spectroscopy, the degree of ionization is indicated by a Roman numeral following the symbol for the element. A neutral atom is indicated by the Roman numeral I, a singly ionized atom, one which has lost one electron, is indicated by II, and so on. Thus O VI indicates an oxygen atom which has lost five electrons.

See also: → degree; → ionization.