On the continuous emission spectra associated with electric discharges through flowing vapours of SnCl₂, SnCl₄ and SiCl₄

Summary

From the experimental conditions under which the spectra are obtained it is assumed that they are due to molecular radiation. Thermochemical and spectrascopic data enable one to illustrate the relation among the energy levels of the various systems in the formation of the multi-atomic molecules from their constituent atoms. Such simplified Franck-Condon diagrams are constructed for SnCl₄ (which includes SnCl₂) and SiCl₄. An interpretation, uniform in all cases, of the observed continuous bands in terms of the transitions among the energy levels, transitions, which of course involve a repulsive state for their final level, is suggested.