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.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 1077
(Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 1114
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2241