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The adsorption and decomposition of simple hydrocarbons on clean metal films has been studied using ultra-high vacuum and mass spectrometric techniques. The following metals adsorbed ethane but yielded no gaseous decomposition products: at 27° C and 100° C nickel, palladium, platinum, titanium and iron: at 27° C vanadium. Methane and hydrogen were observed as decomposition products for some metals. The order of activity of metals at 27° C for producing methane from ethane is Rh > Re > Ir > Mo similar W, and at 100° C is Rh > Ir > Re > W. The order of activity of the metals at 27° C for producing hydrogen from methane is Re > Mo similar W similar Ir, and at 100° C Re > W > V. Propane and n -butane absorbed and decomposed to simpler hydrocarbons and hydrogen on rhodium. Ethylene underwent both self-hydrogenation and cracking on iridium.
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Richard W. Roberts (1963) studied this question.
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