Specific radiation-loss power values have been determined for a variety of electronegative elements (C, O, F, Cl) as functions of electron temperature and impurity particle concentration. The maximum radiation-loss power level has been registered for chlorine (≤770 W/cm3) at an electron/impurity density of 1014 cm-3. The minimum radiation-loss power level for the other three elements lies in the range from 0.4 to 2 W/cm3. Considerable radiation losses due to the presence of electronegative elements in the interelectrode discharge may lead to its destabilization, to the change in the plasma parameters (ne, Te), and eventually, to degradation of the current-voltage characteristic of the plasma current switch.