We review recent progress in the understanding of the chemical dynamic
s of gas-surface reactions. Such reactions can involve many dynamicall
y distinct interactions, Our review begins by considering a number of
these important elementary processes, dealing in turn with (1) the ini
tial gas-surface interaction including translational, rotational, and
vibrational energy exchange, the discussion of vibrational interaction
s covering both direct vibrational excitation and vibrational relaxati
on at surfaces; (2) the trapping or adsorption of atoms and molecules
on the surface; and (3) the important elementary processes of surface
diffusion and desorption. We conclude with a detailed look at two exam
ples of gas-surface reactions, first summarizing what is now known abo
ut the dissociative chemisorption of hydrogen at Cu surfaces (and the
reverse process of recombinative desorption), Then we describe recent
studies of direct gas-surface abstraction (or Eley-Rideal) reactions.