The partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde over Pd‐supported on Al2O3 in the presence of small amounts of halogen modifiers was investigated in an isothermal integral flow reactor at atmospheric pressure between 300 and 510°C. The effects of several variables, feed ratio of air to methane, reaction temperature, reciprocal of space velocity, and the type and amount of halogen modifiers on the conversion and product distribution, were determined by gas chromatography. Though 13 different mechanisms were postulated the rate of reaction was most satisfactorily correlated by a mechanism which assumes the rate controlling step to be the surface reaction between charged, adsorbed methane and oxygen.