Ionization refers to the process of removing one or more electrons from an atom or molecule, creating an ion. This can be achieved by adding energy to the atom. The other options refer to different chemical processes:
- Dissociation involves the breaking of a compound into its components.
- Deionization is the process of removing ions.
- Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons in a chemical reaction.
Thus, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{(A) \, \text{Ionization}} \]