Enhanced Oxidation of Platinum in Activated Oxygen

Abstract

An enhanced oxidation of platinum has been observed in moist activated oxygen, and the cause of this enhancement has been investigated. The surface oxidation was examined at 1000°C and 0.50 mm Hg pressure of oxygen, and the rate was found to be markedly increased by the oxygen atoms. The reaction was found to obey a linear law of the form ω= (k+k2n0)t, where n0 is the number of oxygen atoms striking unit area of the platinum per second. Oxygen atoms were shown to be at least 400 times more reactive than oxygen molecules.