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Answer 1 · 2015-03-16T21:02:25

Ionization is a special case of dissociation.

Dissociation is a process in which compounds separate or split into smaller particles.

We might write the general equation as

$A-B \to A + B$ $"A-B" → "A + B"$

For example,

$NaCl(s) \to {Na}^{+} (aq) + {Cl}^{-} (aq)$ $"NaCl(s)" → "Na"^+"(aq)" + "Cl"^"-""(aq)"$

In this case, the solid $NaCl$ $"NaCl"$ consists of ${Na}^{+}$ $"Na"^+$ and ${Cl}^{-}$ $"Cl"^"-"$ ions.

All they are doing when $NaCl$ $"NaCl"$ dissolves is separating from each other.

When the substance already contains ions, the process is often called dissociation.

Many covalent compounds also dissociate in water to form ions.

For example,

$HF(aq) ⇌ H^{+} (aq) + F^{-} (aq)$ $"HF(aq)" ⇌ "H"^+"(aq)" + "F"^"-""(aq)"$

When covalent compounds dissolve in water to produce ions, the dissociation process is often called ionization.

Here's a great video on ionization and dissociation.