The Interaction of Gases with Solids

THE last important discussion on adsorption phenomena in Great Britain took place in January 1932 at Oxford, under the auspices of the Faraday Society. At that meeting, the topic which evoked most controversy was that of the activated adsorption of hydrogen on metals and on metallic oxides, that is, on solids particularly active as hydrogenating catalysts. While a great deal of work has been done in the intervening four years, it cannot be said that the matter is at all thoroughly elucidated. Meanwhile, however, several new independent lines of attack have been brought to bear on the varied phenomena encountered in the interaction of gases with solids, which may ultimately lead to more precise views on the question of activated adsorption. On November 21, therefore, Prof. E. K. Rideal opened a discussion at the Chemical Society in order to direct attention to recent work and to focus opinion on a subject still in a state of flux.