An electron energy loss spectroscopy study of resonance population in ethylene chemisorbed on Pd (110) The development of a methanol multilayer on Pd͕110͖ at 124 K has been examined with reflectionabsorption infrared spectroscopy ͑RAIRS͒. The spectra indicate that a crystalline multilayer grows in which hydrogen-bonded chains of molecules are parallel to the substrate. A ''sandwich'' phase is identified and consists of several physisorbed layers in between the chemisorbed layer and the crystalline phase. Methanol desorption and decomposition on heating have been followed with simultaneous temperature-programmed RAIRS and TPD measurements. Desorption of chemisorbed methanol is observed at 214 K, whereas the decomposition reaction yielding adsorbed CO and H proceeds at ϳ295 K on heating at 2 K s Ϫ1 . Spectral bands observed on adsorption at 180 K to low exposure, which precede the appearance of the CO signal, are tentatively attributed to chemisorbed methanol. No conclusive evidence for a methoxy intermediate in the decomposition reaction is found.