Role of adsorption complexes in catalytic acceleration of heterogeneous reactions

The universal equation that imposes restrictions on the kinetics of heterogeneous chemical reactions has been derived. A method of studying the participation of chemisorbed or physisorbed gas molecules in heterogeneous chemical reactions has been proposed. It has been shown that the heterogeneous reaction rate is independent of the degree of occupation of the catalyst surface by the reactants as long as the product is formed by chemisorbed complexes and physisorbed molecules. It has been found that the formation of CO2 in the heterogeneous chemical reactions CO+ O → CO2 and 2CO + O2 → 2CO2 is participated by physisorbed particles and chemisorbed complexes of oxygen atoms and CO molecules.