177.    --------------. [BEECK, O.] Surface Catalysis.  Rev. Modern Phys., vol. 20, 1948, pp. 127-130; Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 4435.

                  Review of work of Beeck and associates.  The discovery of the effect of traces of H₂O and H₂S in lowering the decomposition temperature of hydrocarbons is discussed.  The molecular-ray experiments also seem to indicate the decomposition of CH₄ into CH₃ and H and C₂H₆ into 2 CH radicals.  There is evidence that the CH radical is formed in the decomposition of acetylene.  The adsorption step is the crucial step in surface catalysis, and the reaction of ethylene and H₂ is cited as an example.  Finally the tracer technique is discussed in connection with the isomerization of butane to isobutane.