Could you please, explain to me the logic of the folllowing process as you would do to your 8 y/o sister:
Ubiquitousness and stability of atoms relies on their binding energy, which means that an atom has a lower energy than an unbound system of the nucleus and electrons. Where the temperature is much higher than ionization potential, the matter exists in the form of plasma – a gas of positively-charged ions and electrons. When the temperature drops below the ionization potential, atoms become statistically favorable.
Source: wiki
How that that binding energy can be explained in plain English? Is it somewhat intrinsic to atoms, with each kind having its own level of binding energy? I understand that this can be translated in the language of closed systems using terms as Gibbs energy (G), etc. - but how? Can the same process be describes as a kind of abstract thermodynamic system? I mean atom is a closed system, it reveives (some absctract) energy, etc. Can the same break up/formation of atoms be explained in terms of intrinsic energy potentials (i.e. systems linguo)?