In situ confocal microprobe Raman spectroscopy results showed that O-2(2-), O-2(-) and O-2(delta-) (0 < delta < 1) adspecies formed on the O-2 pretreated cerium oxide sample when the temperature was below 423 K. At 1023 K, only CeO2 F-2g peak (at 449 cm(-1)) and O-2(-) species (at 1159 cm(-1))were observed on the surface. The reactivity of methane with the oxygen species was lower than that of ethane with the oxygen species