Term: excited state
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02257

Definition:
State of a system with energy higher than that of the ground state. This term is most commonly used to characterize a molecule in one of its electronically excited states, but can also refer to vibrational and/or rotational excitation in the electronic ground state.

Related Terms:
1) ground state (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02704).

Source: PAC, 1994, 66, 1077. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994)' on page 1114 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199466051077)

Citation: 'excited state' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.E02257

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