Catalysis of Isotope Exchange in Molecular Oxygen and Its Application to the Study of Catalysts

Problems related to the kinetics and mechanism of isotope exchange in molecular oxygen on solid catalysts are reviewed. Experimental data on the homomolecular exchange of oxygen on oxides and metals are reported. The relationship between the catalytic activity of oxides towards oxygen exchange and their activity towards other oxidation reactions is discussed. It is pointed out that studies of isotope exchange reactions of molecular oxygen should prove useful in elucidating the nature of intermediate entities during the interaction of oxygen with a catalyst surface. The activity towards exchange can be used as a characteristic of general oxygen reactivity, and rules for the choice of oxidation catalysts can be based on it.
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