Au/M II Cr 2 O 4 (M II = Co, Mn, Fe) catalysts have been tested in the total oxidation of ethane, propane, propene at 300°C and of CO at 35°C, and characterized by TEM, XPS and hydrogen thermo-programmed reduction (H 2 TPR). The catalytic activity has been found to depend on the nature of the oxidized compound. For the CO and ethane oxidation, the activity decreases in the sequence Au/ CoCr 2 O 4 [ Au/MnCr 2 O 4 ) Au/FeCr 2 O 4 and follows the sequence of the decreasing reducibility of the supports and the catalysts, estimated from H 2 TPR measurements. The activity decreases with the increasing Au particle size in the same order, the reactions then seem structure sensitive. No correlations between the activity and reducibility or the particle size are observed for oxidation of the C 3 hydrocarbons: the sequence of the activity for propane is: Au/FeCr 2 O 4 [ Au/CoCr 2 O 4 [ Au/MnCr 2 O 4 , whereas activity in propene oxidation does not change markedly within the studied catalysts. The reaction mechanism in the oxidation of propane and propene seems then to be different from that of oxidation of CO and ethane.The paper is dedicated to the memory of Dr Monica Caldararu, with whom we shared for over 30 years a common interest in oxide catalysis. I enjoyed discussions with Monica and always admired her knowledge, enthusiasm, dynamism and strong will, which helped her to live and work in hard periods of our history and which were highly appreciated by her friends (BGŚ ).