C. J. p. SPRUIT AND A. SPRUIT-VAN DER BURG 



3 



103 



410 



450 



490 



530 



570 



610 rriL 



Fig. 4. The emission spectra of the chemiluminescence of dimethylbisacridinium 

 nitrate at three temperatures. 



state. Though there is as yet no experimental evidence ruhng out this 

 possibiHty, there is no sound basis for the assumption, as we shall see. 

 Transfer of excitation energy, although theoretically possible, has 

 not been observed with certainty during chemiluminescence in solu- 

 tion. In this connection it is advisable, however, to recall the old 

 observations by Kautsky ( 1925 ) , who observed chemiluminescence of 

 organic dyes adsorbed upon inorganic gels, where the excitation 

 energy obviously originated from oxidation of the adsorbent. This 

 work certainly merits reconsideration and reexamination with modern 

 methods. It has been demonstrated by Duysens (1952) that transfer 

 of excitation energy between organic pigments in the living plant 

 cell is a normal phenomenon. It is therefore advisable to keep in mind 



