Ultraviolet Absorption of SO2: Dissociation Energies of SO2 and SO

Abstract

The absorption intensities of SO₂ were measured in the wavelength region 1849–3150 Å employing the hydrogen continuum as the source and at selected wavelengths utilizing the mercury line spectrum. The pressure dependence of the absorption intensity was investigated at 1849, 2537, and 3131 Å. The existence of an absorption continuum commencing at 2280 Å has been established and attributed to the dissociation of SO₂ forming SO and a ground‐state oxygen atom. The onset of the continuum provides an upper limit value to the dissociation energy of SO₂. The implications upon the SO₂ and SO dissociation energies are discussed.