Possible mechanism of the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on metals

Abstract

1. An examination is made of the principel results of the study of the kinetics of the oxidation of hydrogen in presence of platinum. 2. On the basis of a very large amount of experimental material, it is suggested that the stage limiting the process of the oxidation of hydrogen over platinum is the adsorption of oxygen without breakdown of the molecules into atoms. 3. The oxygen that forms a stable surface compound with platinum is not reduced by hydrogen, but it activates the platinum with respect ot the reaction of hydrogen oxidation. 4. Suggestions are made concerning the further stages in the process of the oxidation of hydrogen over platinum. 5. The laws governing the oxidation of hydrogen over platinum apply also to palladium and other noble metals, and this fact makes it probable that the mechanism is the same in each case. Some stages of the mechanism that we have analyzed are probably to be found also in the case of the non-noble transitional metals.