Gradient-corrected density-functional theory ͑DFT-GGA͒ periodic slab calculations have been used to analyze the binding of atomic hydrogen on monometallic Pd͑111͒, Re͑0001͒, and bimetallic Pd ML /Re(0001) ͓pseudomorphic monolayer of Pd͑111͒ on Re͑0001͔͒ and Re ML /Pd(111) surfaces. The computed binding energies of atomic hydrogen adsorbed in the fcc hollow site, at 100% surface coverage, on the Pd͑111͒, Re͑0001͒, Pd ML /Re(0001), and Re ML /Pd(111) surfaces, are Ϫ2.66, Ϫ2.82, Ϫ2.25, and Ϫ2.78 eV, respectively. Formal chemisorption theory was used to correlate the predicted binding energy with the location of the d-band center of the bare metal surfaces, using a model developed by Hammer and Nørskov. The DFTcomputed adsorption energies were also analyzed on the basis of the density of states ͑DOS͒ at the Fermi level for the clean metal surfaces. The results indicate a clear correlation between the d-band center of the surface metal atoms and the hydrogen chemisorption energy. The further the d-band center is from the Fermi level, the weaker is the chemisorption bond of atomic hydrogen on the surface. Although the DOS at the Fermi level may be related to the location of the d-band, it does not appear to provide an independent parameter for assessing surface reactivity. The weak chemisorption of hydrogen on the Pd ML /Re(0001) surface relates to substantial lowering of the d-band center of Pd, when it is pseudomorphically deposited as a monolayer on a Re substrate.