Beschreibung:
<jats:p> The analytic solution of vibrational relaxation in a low-pressure gas is applied to the thermal dissociation of O<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> in helium and of SO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub> in argon. Use is made of experimental relaxation times to obtain average energy lost per collision. Calculated weak-collision rate constants are in very good agreement with experiment in the case of SO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, but only in fair agreement in the case of ozone. Several curious aspects of the ozone system, both experimental and theoretical, are discussed. </jats:p>