18 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



surface of the particles consisted of hydrogens and hydroxy! groups, 

 as represented on the left-hand side of equation (1). This slowly 

 reacted with hydrogen, according to reaction (2) so that water closely 

 equivalent to the hydrogen used up was given ofï. There was some 

 hydrogen in excess of the amount equivalent to the water given off. 

 According to the above method of representation, this was due to 

 the slow action of H"^ H~ diffusing into the interior and reducing 

 some nickel oxide, this hydrogen, which has left the surface, being 

 replaced b)^ more hydrogen. This union of diffused hydrogen and 

 nickel oxide gives off water very slowly. Hence under the conditions 

 of the experiment a small amount of hydrogen, used up in excess of the 

 equivalent of water formed, was to be expected. 



Experiment 10. 



Nickel oxide reduced by hydrogénation at 400°C. is said by 

 Willstatter (9) to be inactive. It was of interest then to determine the 

 condition of the nickel with respect to hydrogen and oxygen content 

 when prepared under these conditions. 



A nickel catalyst was made by distributing 1 . 5 g. nickel oxide 

 over 10 grams of finely divided asbestos by igniting the asbestos 

 impregnated with nitrate. In this way a small amount of nickel 

 oxide was distributed over a large surface. This was contained in the 

 tube d of the apparatus already described. The apparatus was 

 filled with hydrogen at room temperature. A measured volume of 

 hydrogen was passed back and forth at 400°C., the tube d being 

 heated in a bath of fused sodium nitrite, that part of the tube d con- 

 taining the asbestos being completely immersed in the nitrite bath. 

 Hydrogen was passed for 20 hours. 



Hydrogen disappeared 410 c.c. 



Water evolved equivalent to 380 c.c. 



Hydrogen in the catalyst 30 c.c. 



This catalyst adsorbed very little additional hydrogen on standing 

 for three days. Thus this inactive nickel does contain adsorbed 

 hydrogen. Since all the oxygen has disappeared this catalyst, 

 according to the above method of representation, consists now of: 



H + 

 H- 

 Ni H-f- 

 H- 

 H + 

 I 



