The interaction between metal surfaces and reactants involves several steps: adsorption, surface diffusion, reaction, and desorption. During adsorption, reactant molecules adhere to the metal surface, often through weak van der Waals forces or stronger chemisorption. Surface diffusion allows these molecules to migrate across the surface to find optimal reaction sites. The reaction itself occurs when the adsorbed species undergo a chemical transformation, followed by the desorption of the product molecules from the surface.
