  We introduce a method for analyzing ground state properties of quantum many
body systems, based on the characterization of separability and entanglement by
single subsystem unitary operations. We apply the method to the study of the
ground state structure of several interacting spin-1/2 models, described by
Hamiltonians with different degrees of symmetry. We show that the approach
based on single qubit unitary operations allows to introduce {\it
``entanglement excitation energies''}, a set of observables that can
characterize ground state properties, including the quantification of
single-site entanglement and the determination of quantum critical points. The
formalism allows to identify the existence and location of factorization
points, and a purely quantum {\it ``transition of entanglement''} that occurs
at the approach of factorization. This kind of quantum transition is
characterized by a diverging ratio of excitation energies associated to
single-qubit unitary operations.
