UV spectra of SF₅ and SF₅O₂ radicals in the gas phase at 295 K have been quantified using a pulse radiolysis UV absorption technique. The absorption spectrum of SF₅ was quantified from 220 to 240 nm. The absorption cross section at 220 nm was (5.5 ± 1.7) × 10⁻¹⁹ cm². When SF₅ was produced in the presence of O₂ an equilibrium between SF₅, O₂, and SF₅O₂ was established. The rate constant for the reaction of SF₅ radicals with O₂ was (8 ± 2) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The decomposition rate constant for SF₅O₂ was (1.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁵ s⁻¹, giving an equilibrium constant of K_eq = [SF₅O₂]/[SF₅][O₂] = (8.0 ± 4.5) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹. The SF₅O₂ bond strength is (13.7 ± 2.0) kcal mol⁻¹. The SF₅O₂ spectrum was broad with no fine structure and similar to the UV spectra of alkyl peroxy radicals. The absorption cross section at 230 nm was found to (3.7 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹⁸ cm². The rate constant of the reaction of SF₅O₂ with NO was measured to (1.1 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ by monitoring the kinetics of NO₂ formation at 400 nm. The rate constant for the reaction of F atoms with SF₄ was measured by two relative methods to be (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.