The adsorption and oxidation of ethanol has been studied in on bright platinum. Adsorption of two species, one cathodically desorbable, the other nondesorbable, has been found over the potential region 0.05–0.8V. The reaction rate is independent of pH at constant overpotential and the reaction is first order in ethanol, at low concentrations, tending toward zero order at high concentrations. The i‐V curve shows current inhibition above about 0.6V. Possible reaction schemes are discussed in the light of the findings.