CHEMISORPTION AND EXCHANGE WITH DEUTERIUM OF METHANE ON METALS

The interaction of methane with metal catalysts has received less attention than that of hydrocarbons containing two or more carbon atoms [1]. Yet methane is interesting because its electronic structure resembles that of a rare gas and it possesses high symmetry and small reactivity. Also, it is the most stable of the alkanes and one of the few thermodynamically stable at room temperature. The temperature at which methane should spontaneously decompose (δG° = 0) is 570°C [2] and its reactions may give valuable information [4].