Abstract: The mechanism of promoting effects of chromium for Cu-Cr₂O₃ catalytie synthesisof acrylamide was investigated by the measurements of specific surface area,bulk density ofcatalysts,optical microscope photograms,SEM,XPS,DTA-TG and oxidaton kinetics ofthe catalysts.Addition of 0.5 atom percent of chromium to the reduced copper catalyst in-creased the conversion of acrylonitrile from 77%to 98%,specific surface area from 5.7 to 11.3m²/g and oxidation rate of the catalyst.The mechanism of nucleophilic attack of wateractivated by catalyst to carbon atom of C-N bond of acrylonitrile was suggested.

Key words: CuCr₂O₃ catalyst, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, catalytic hydration, mechanism of catalysis