The flow field modeling of planetary entry plasmas, laser-induced plasmas, inductively coupled plasmas, arcjets, etc., requires to use Navier-Stokes codes. The kinetic mechanisms implemented in these codes involve global (effective) rate coefficients. These rate coefficients result from the excited states coupling during a quasi-steady state. In order to obtain these global rate coefficients over a wide electron temperature (Te) range for ionization and recombination of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, the behavior of their excited states is investigated using a zero-dimensional (time-dependent) code. The population number densities of these electronic states are considered as independent species. Their relaxation is studied within the range 3000  K≤Te≤20 000  K and leads to the determination of the ionization (ki) and recombination (kr) global rate coefficients. Comparisons with existing data are performed. Finally, the ratio ki/kr is compared with the Saha equilibrium constant. This ratio increases more rapidly than the equilibrium constant for Te>15 000  K.

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