900.    FESTER, G., AND BRUDE, G.  [Decomposition of Carbon Monoxide.]  Ber. Deut. Chem. Gesell., vol. 56B, 1923, pp. 2245-2249; Chem. Abs., vol. 18, 1924, p. 1095.

      It has been previously shown that the equilibrium 2 CO=CO₂+C (1) is displaced but slightly to the right at low temperatures for want of a suitable catalyzer (abs. 2219, 3001, and 3222), but that the equilibrium CO+H₂O=CO₂+H₂ (2) in the presence of Pd black si displaced considerably to the right at low temperatures (abs. 3688).  By using Pd absorbed on active charcoal as catalyzer, CO, either alone or mixed with an equal volume of H₂, was decomposed at low temperatures in the presence of so small an amount of H₂O that reaction (1) took place and not (2).  To prove that reaction (1) occurred, active charcoal was replaced by active SiO₂ whereby the free C formed in (1) was easily detected.  By varying the amount of H₂O vapor present, H₂ in small or large amount was formed, owing to reaction (2).  Contrary to Orlov (abs. 2532), no C₂H₄ could be detected in the products, though under certain conditions small amounts of saturated hydrocarbons and Ni(CO)₄ were detected.