3067.     SCHENCK, R., KURZEN, F., AND WESSELKOCK, H.  [Activation of Metals by Foreign Substances.  II.]  Ztschr. anorg. Chem., vol. 206, 1932, pp. 273-288; Chem. Abs., vol. 26, 1932, p. 4549.

        Fe and W in MgO make it difficult to form carbide by action of CH4, if in the carbides of these metals 1 C atom is attached to several metallic atoms, as in Fe3C or W5C2.  Carbide formation is not hindered by the addition of inert oxides if the carbide consists of an equal number of metal and C atoms, as WC.  These experiments show that linkage of metal atoms with a C atom can only occur with a favorable spatial distribution of the metal atoms.