Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate02:21

Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Potassium Permanganate

13.0K
Alkenes can be dihydroxylated using potassium permanganate.  The method encompasses the reaction of an alkene with a cold, dilute solution of potassium permanganate under basic conditions to form a cis-diol along with a brown precipitate of manganese dioxide.
13.0K
Acid Halides to Ketones: Gilman Reagent01:14

Acid Halides to Ketones: Gilman Reagent

3.1K
Lithium dialkyl cuprate, also known as Gilman reagents, selectively reduces acid halides to ketones. The acid chloride is treated with Gilman reagent at −78 °C in the presence of ether solution to produce a ketone in good yield.
As shown below, the mechanism proceeds in two steps. First, one of the alkyl groups of the reagent acts as a nucleophile and attacks the acyl carbon of the acid chloride to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen...
3.1K
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview01:27

Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview

1.8K
Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig discovered the pinacol coupling reaction in 1859. It is a radical dimerization reaction and involves the reductive coupling of aldehydes or ketones in the presence of hydrocarbon solvent to yield vicinal diols.
1.8K
Acid-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction01:15

Acid-Catalyzed Aldol Addition Reaction

2.7K
The aldol reaction of a ketone under acidic conditions successfully forms an unsaturated carbonyl as the final product instead of an aldol. The acid-catalyzed aldol reaction is depicted in Figure 1.
2.7K
Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Mechanism01:10

Aldehydes and Ketones with HCN: Cyanohydrin Formation Mechanism

3.4K
Cyanohydrins are formed when cyanide nucleophiles and carbonyl compounds like aldehydes and ketones react. A strong base, the cyanide ion, catalyzes cyanohydrin formation. The ions are generated from HCN under aqueous conditions. Once the cyanide ions are generated, the first step involves the nucleophilic attack of the cyanide ions on the electrophilic carbonyl carbon. This attack shifts the π electrons from the C=O to the oxygen atom forming the alkoxide ion intermediate. The alkoxide anion...
3.4K
Catalysis02:50

Catalysis

27.6K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
27.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Atomic-scale structural inversion of interfacial water from atomic force microscopy.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Methoxy Photooxidation on Rutile TiO<sub>2</sub>(110): The Role of Excess Electrons.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2026
Same author

Noncovalent copper oxide framework on Cu(111) with open honeycomb structure.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Stacking-Dependent Interfacial Water Dynamics Govern the Aqueous Degradation of Layered LiCoO<sub>2</sub> Cathodes.

ChemSusChem·2026
Same author

Selective Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexene into 1,3-Cyclohexadiene on TiO<sub>2</sub>.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2026
Same author

Atomically resolved two-dimensional amorphous nuclei formed during MoS<sub>2</sub> chemical vapor deposition.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
10:52

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

12.9K

Potassium-Promoted Formic Acid Dehydrogenation on Cu(111): Visualizing HCOO-‑K+ Intermediates.

Jing Xie1, Yi Zeng2, Ziqi Sun3

  • 1College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.

JACS Au
|August 1, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Potassium significantly enhances formic acid decomposition on copper surfaces by stabilizing formate intermediates. This atomic-level understanding reveals new catalytic pathways for formate species.

Keywords:
K+-formate complexalkali metalsatomic scaleformic acid dehydrogenationscanning probe microscopy

More Related Videos

HKUST-1 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Vanillin
11:15

HKUST-1 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Vanillin

Published on: July 23, 2016

10.3K
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
10:52

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics

Published on: April 12, 2019

12.9K
HKUST-1 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Vanillin
11:15

HKUST-1 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Vanillin

Published on: July 23, 2016

10.3K
Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
10:57

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Published on: April 10, 2018

18.4K

Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Catalysis
  • Materials Chemistry

Background:

  • Alkali metals are crucial in formic acid decomposition.
  • The atomic-scale mechanism of alkali metal promotion and formate interaction is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the atomic-scale mechanism of potassium's promotion of formic acid decomposition on Cu(111).
  • To investigate the interaction between potassium and formate ions on the copper surface.

Main Methods:

  • Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM)
  • Noncontact Atomic Force Microscopy (nc-AFM)
  • Temperature-Programmed Desorption (TPD)

Main Results:

  • Potassium promotes formic acid deprotonation, forming formate-potassium (HCOO--K+) complexes.
  • These complexes form stable clusters, enhancing formate adsorption and subsequent dissociation into H2 and CO2.
  • Potassium ions stabilize formate intermediates more effectively than water.

Conclusions:

  • Potassium plays a dominant role in promoting formic acid dehydrogenation by stabilizing formate.
  • Provides atomic-scale insights into potassium-mediated formate stabilization on metal surfaces.
  • Offers new perspectives for catalytic processes involving formate species.