What is the term for the point when electrostatic repulsion between ions becomes too strong?

The term for the point when electrostatic repulsion between ions becomes too strong is referred to as Coulombic Breakdown. This concept is rooted in the behavior of charged particles, where as ions are brought closer together, the electrostatic forces between them become increasingly significant. When these repulsive forces exceed a certain threshold, it can result in the inability of the ions to remain in close proximity to one another, leading to dominantly repulsive interactions over attractive forces.

Understanding Coulombic Breakdown is important in various fields such as plasma physics and chemical reactions, where the stability of ion interactions is critical. It reflects the balance between attractive forces (like those due to charge) and repulsive forces (due to proximity), ultimately defining the conditions under which ions can co-exist stably or when they will break apart due to excessive repulsion.

The other terms presented refer to different phenomena: Ionization Threshold relates to the minimum energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule; Thermal Decomposition pertains to the breaking down of compounds due to heat; and Rayleigh Limit may refer to dynamics related to scattering or optical limits, but does not specifically address the electrostatic repulsion between ions. Hence, these do not accurately describe the process in question.