SOME RESULTS OF THE HIGH DISPERSION ELECTRONIC EMISSION SPECTRUM OF FORMALDEHYDE

Abstract

It has been possible to obtain the emission spectrum in the near ultraviolet region of formaldehyde in a discharge tube at sufficiently high resolution and purity so that the rotational structure can be studied. Some preliminary results of the analysis are discussed, especially with regard to the vibrational assignment of the emission and absorption systems and to the nature of the upper electronic state. An examination of the data rather strongly indicates a non-planar equilibrium configuration in the excited electronic state. Some of the previous interpretations are shown to be in disagreement with the experimental findings. A long path length absorption study of the gas revealed a number of new bands, some of which may belong to a second electronic transition.