Dissociative excitation of the calcium atom and the single-charged cal
cium ion during collisions of slow electrons with calcium dichloride m
olecules was studied by means of the extended crossed beam technique c
ombined with optical spectroscopy. It was found that ionic lines are m
ore effectively excited than atomic ones. The ratio of the cross secti
ons for dissociative and direct excitation of various levels varied ov
er a wide range.