dissociate

Dissociate is a verb that means to separate from association or to cause to become separated into parts that are less connected. The term is widely used across scientific and psychological contexts, and its exact meaning depends on the domain.

In chemistry, dissociation refers to a reversible process in which a compound splits into smaller components, typically ions, when dissolved in a solvent such as water. The extent of dissociation depends on the substance, temperature, and solvent. A common example is the dissociation of many ionic salts into positive and negative ions in aqueous solution. Strong electrolytes dissociate completely in solution, while weak electrolytes dissociate only partially. Dissociation is central to theories of acid-base equilibria and electrolysis, and it can also describe the breaking apart of molecules into charged fragments, as in photodissociation.

In physics and materials science, dissociation can describe the breakup of bound states, such as molecules into atoms, or the separation of excitations in solids where charge carriers are freed from bound states. Dissociation processes are often studied in spectroscopy, thermodynamics, and reaction kinetics to understand energy changes and reaction pathways.

In psychology, dissociation refers to a mental process in which aspects of cognition, memory, identity, or perception become separated from conscious awareness. It can occur as a normal coping mechanism in response to trauma or stress, but also features in dissociative disorders when experiences become unusually fragmented or disrupted. Clinically, dissociation is discussed as a spectrum from routine forgetfulness to more severe disruptions of sense of self.

Etymology wise, dissociate comes from Latin dissociare, from dis- “apart” + sociare “to unite.” The related noun is dissociation.