25 
To Traube, therefore, we owe the introduction into the science of a 
number of distinctly new ideas respecting oxidation phenomena. 
These are as follows: 
First. That in all processes of autoxidation the oxygen molecule 
as a whole combines with the oxidizable substance, or with the hydro- 
gen of water under the influence of the oxidizable substance, to form a 
o ' 
peroxide (holoxide). Thus when hydrogen burns in air or oxygen, 
hydrogen peroxide is the primary product of the oxidation, the 
formation of water resulting from the reduction of the peroxide by 
the action of the hydrogen; thus: 
h 2 +o 2 =h 2 o 2 , 
and 
H 2 0 2 +H 2 = 2H 2 0. 
Second. That water actively participates in all or at least in the 
greater number of autoxidations, and that hydrogen peroxide is 
formed as a primary product of such autoxidations. When, for 
example, zinc oxidizes at ordinary temperatures in the presence of 
water the following changes occur: 
' jj + 0 2 =Zn(0H) 2 + H 2 0 2 - 
Similarly, according to Traube, traces of moisture are necessary for 
the burning of carbon monoxide for the following reasons: 
co + Ho]fn + °* = H ’ c °s + H A, 
and 
C0 + H 2 0 2 = H 2 C0 3 , 
and 
2 KLCO 3 = 2C0 2 + 2H 2 0. 
Third. That the phenomenon of oxygen-carrying is due primarily 
to the oxidation of the second oxidizable substance, the acceptor, by 
the hydrogen peroxide resulting from the oxidation of the autoxi- 
dizable substance (the carrier) in the presence of water. When, for 
example, palladium hydride is shaken with air and water large 
amounts of hydrogen peroxide are formed. If, however, a second 
oxidizable substance is present, such as carbon monoxide or potassium 
iodide, it, as well as the hydrogen of the palladium hydride, is oxidized 
for the reason that under the influence of the palladium these are 
oxidized by hydrogen peroxide; thus: 
Pd 2 H HO.H tt a 
PdPt + HOH +0 2 =4Pd + 2H 2 0 +H 2 0 2 , 
and 
C0 + H 2 0 2 = H 2 C0 3 , 
or 
2 KI + H 2 0 2 = 2 KOH + 1 2 . 
Zn + 
HO 
HO 
