Term: inelastic scattering
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03025

Definition:
If in a molecular collision there is transfer of energy among degrees of freedom, but no chemical reaction occurs, there is said to be inelastic scattering.

Related Terms:
1) degrees of freedom (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01572).
2) scattering (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05487).

Source: PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 169 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149)

Citation: 'inelastic scattering' 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.I03025

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