The process in which pure water breaks down in to charged particles is called

The process in which pure water breaks down into charged particles is called ionization. Here are the steps of this process:

1. Ionization begins when energy is applied to a water molecule (H2O). This energy can come from various sources such as heat, light, or electrical discharge.

2. The applied energy causes the water molecule to gain or lose electrons. This results in the formation of ions, which are charged particles.

3. When a water molecule loses an electron, it forms a hydroxide ion (OH-) and a hydrogen ion (H+). The hydroxide ion carries a negative charge, while the hydrogen ion carries a positive charge.

4. These ions are now free to interact with other ions in the water, leading to various chemical reactions.

5. The presence of these ions also makes the water conductive, which is why pure water is not a good conductor of electricity, but ionized water is.

This process is reversible. When the energy source is removed, the ions can recombine to form neutral water molecules again.