The Rotational Partition Function of the Water Molecule

Abstract
The rotational contribution to the partition function of the water molecule has been computed for temperatures up to 298.1°K by summing the experimental energy levels of Randall, Dennison, Ginsberg and Weber. The results are compared with those of a rigid rotator and in this way the ``stretching'' contribution is determined. E. Bright Wilson's theoretically deduced stretching correction compares very favorably with the values obtained by summing energy states.