The internal oxidation of a two-phase at.% Se alloy in pure oxygen was studied at 750, 800 and 830 • C. The alloy is composed of a dilute solid solution of selenium in silver) and Ag 2 Se intermetallic particles. The internal oxidation of this alloy proceeds through gradual in-situ oxidation of the Ag 2 Se particles as well as through diffusive internal oxidation of selenium from solid solution. Gradual in-situ internal oxidation of Ag 2 Se particles reflects itself in the appearance of two internal-oxidation fronts, inner and outer, marking the beginning and end of the in-situ oxidation of Ag 2 Se particles. The oxide phase formed during in-situ oxidation is the molten double oxide, Ag 2 SeO 3 . A theoretical treatment of the phase relationships in a hypothetical Ag-Ag 2 Se-Ag 2 SeO 3 ternary phase diagram is presented to assist the explanation of the mechanism of in-situ oxidation. The kinetics of oxidation are presented in Part II.KEY WORDS: silver-selenium alloy; Ag 2 Se in-situ oxidation; Ag 2 SeO 3 ; internal oxidation of two-phase alloys.