Charged-particle emission was studied for the reactions 222, 274, and 340 MeV "Ar+'"Sn, '"Sm, ""Dy, and '"Au. Energy and angular distributions were measured for H and He and angular distributions for Li, Be, B, C, N, and 0, fissionlike fragments and evaporation residues. For H and He the data are consistent with a lowtemperature evaporative component and a high-temperature forward peaked component. For Li through 0 the forward-peaked emission was studied for 340 MeV "Ar only. The evaporation residue cross sections decrease strongly with increasing Z reflecting the increasing fissionability. However, the cross sections for 'H and "He in coincidence with fission are essentially constant with Z. Coincidence measurements, energy spectra, and 'He/'H ratios indicate that most H/He evaporation precedes fission. This implies that the energy thermalization is very rapid indeed and that the light particle spectra can probe the very early history of the composite systems. NUCLEAR HEACTIONS Sn, Sm, Dy, Au ( Ar; H/He, fission and evaporation residues), E= 222, 274, and 340 MeV, measured energy and angular distributions in singles mode. For E= 340 MeV, coincidence measurements between H/He and one fission-like fragment, and angular distributions for Li, Be, B, C, N, and 0 in the singles mode.