Further observations of chemiluminescence in diffusion flames of alkali metals and halogenated methanes

Abstract

Emission spectra of low-pressure diffusion flames of haloforms or carbon tetrahalides burning in potassium or sodium vapor have been studied at moderate resolution. Spectra of the tetrahalide flames are very rich in C 2 emission. The spectrum of the CCl 4 −K flame is found to contain about 150 new bands of C 2 that can be measured and assigned with the aid of calculations of band heads or origins. The new bands are found to include transitions of the Swan, Ballik-Ramsay, and Phillips systems, plus transitions from four previously unobserved, forbidden systems. All of the new systems involve known states of C 2 . Some discussion and observations are included on the origins of the chemiluminescence, on populations, and on the effects of additives.