To provide an ion generating element, from which a sterilization/ removal effect of floating bacteria in air is acquired, by generating both positive ions and negative ions by impressing the ac voltage with a comparatively small effective value.

The ion generating element 10 consists of a needlelike electrode 1, a GND conductor 4 connected to grounding potential, and an ac power supply 2 which impresses the ac voltage between the needlelike electrode 1 and the GND conductor 4. The needlelike electrode 1 consists of a needlelike part 1a made of stainless steel SUS304 of a diameter of 1 mm, a length of 30 mm, and a tip curvature 1 of 0.1 mm, and a planner part 1b connected to the ac power supply 2 while being integrated with the needlelike part 1a. And by impressing comparatively small ac voltage of the range of effective value of 1.5 to 3.0 kV using the ac power supply 2 to the needlelike electrode 1, the positive ions and the negative ions of enough quantity can be generated efficiently. Therefore, even if it is not provided with a safe circuit separately, danger of electric shocks can be reduced.