2229.     MCKINNEY, A. R.  Decomposition of Ethylene and Carbon Monoxide on Metallic Catalysts.  Jour. Phys. Chem., vol. 47, 1943, pp. 152-163; Chem. Abs., vol. 37, 1943, p. 3659.

        Metals Fe, Co, and Ni rapidly decompose CO above 250°, whereas Os, Pt, Cu, and Pd are comparatively inactive.  The active group of metals all form carbonyls.  The order of decreasing activity for C₂H₄ decomposition by Ni, Co, Fe, and Cu is compared to their respective atomic radii, 1.24, 1.25, 1.27, and 1.28 Å.  Ni and Co decompose C₂H₄ increasingly to CH₄ as the temperature is raised; the C₂H₆ formation goes through a maximum at about 280°.  Cu produces no CH₄ up to 460°, the reaction products being H₂ and C₂H₆.  With Fe large amounts of both H₂ and CH₄ are formed.  From an equimolecular C₂H₄-CO mixture the decomposition of C₂H₄ reaches 90% at 10°-60° lower temperature than without CO.  The relative yields of H₂, C₂H₆, and CH₄ are considerably influenced by the CO.  Evidence as to the source of catalytic activity is reviewed.