Adsorption and reaction of ethylene, C2H4, on Ru(0001) were studied with RAIRS.
Ethylene adsorbs without dissociation at 95 K as a di-σ-bonded species.
At 150 K, C2H4 begins to convert to ethylidyne (CCH3), which is stable up to 320 K.
Above 320 K, ethylidyne dehydrogenates to ethynyl (CCH), which is stable to 420 K.
Above 450 K, ethynyl dissociates to form methylidyne, CH, on the surface.