Abstract: | The time-resolved total emission of SO2 (B1B1→X1A1) at 354.9 nm were monitored following the direct excitation by a 266 nm laser pulse. A three-level model was proposed to deal with SO2 (X1A1, A1A2, B1B1) system. From a kinetic treatment of these measurements, the coupling coefficient, ξ, and the relaxation time, τ, relating to the high vibronic levels of A1A2 and B1B1 states were first obtained. It is found that ξ and τ values keep basically constant, reflecting the characteristics of the studied system. In addition, the quenching rate constants of SO2 (A1A2, B1B1) by some alkane and chloromethane molecules were measured at room temperature. The formation cross sections of complexes of SO2 (A1A2, B1B1) and quenchers were calculated by means of a collision complex model. It is shown that the dependence of the formation cross section of complex on the number of C(SINGLEBOND)H or C(SINGLEBOND)Cl bonds is generally in agreement with that of the measured quenching cross section. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 831–837, 1998 |