The Decomposition of Nitrous Oxide on the Surface of Platinum. I. The Retarding Effect of Oxygen

An investigation has been made of the decomposition of nitrous oxide on the surface of spongy platinum in the temperature range 485 to 570 degrees C. The results are in agreement with the previous work of Hinshelwood, Schwab and others using filament catalysts. Experiments have also been made on the effect of added oxygen. It is found that oxygen formed in the reaction has a much larger retarding effect than has added oxygen. Under certain circumstances oxygen and nitrogen also retard the reaction by hindering diffusion to the more remote parts of the catalyst. It is concluded that oxygen formed in the reaction is adsorbed in the atomic condition, while added oxygen is mainly adsorbed in the form of molecules.