2322.     ---------------.  [MORIKAWA, K., BENEDICT, W. S., AND TAYLOR, H. S.]  [Activation of Specific Bonds in Complex Molecules at Catalytic Surfaces.  II.  Carbon-Hydrogen and Carbon-Carbon Bonds in Ethane and Ethane-d.  Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., vol. 58, 1936, pp. 1795-1800; Chem. Abs., vol. 30, 1936, p. 7435.

        C₂H₆ and D₂, heated in contact with a Ni catalyst, undergo an exchange reaction at 100°-130°, and yield mixed methanes at 160°-300°.  The CH₄ reaction was followed by measuring the infrared absorption and by volume changes in the gas mixture.  H₂ is preferentially adsorbed on the catalyst and tends to inhibit CH₄ formation.  At low H₂ concentrations, the side reactions 2C₂H₆→C+3CH₄ and C+2H₂→CH₄ become predominant.  The activation energy of formation of CH₄ from C₂H₂ and H₂ is approximately 43 kg.-cal., and that of CD₄ is approximately 5 kg.-cal. higher.  These reactions are explained in terms of a dissociative adsorption theory.  More energy is required to activate the C-C bond than the C-H bond.  C₂D₆ was prepared by 2 treatments of C₂H₆ with pure D₂ at 138° for 2-3 hr.

        MORITA, K.  See abs. 1681, 1682.

        MORLET, E.  See abs. 2094a.