Statistical-mechanical calculations of thermal properties of diatomic gases

Partially dissociated diatomic gases near local thermal equilibrium were examined with particular focus on their rotational-vibrational properties. A final group of 11 gases whose partition functions are expected to be heavily dependent on the molecular rotational-vibrational motion was selected. Statistical mechanics were used to examine these gases to determine how the gas composition and thermodynamic functions are affected by the molecular-vibrational dynamics. The findings are discussed.