After a brief review of the theory of mechanisms and kinetics of catalytic reactions, we formulate a number of mechanisms for the hypothetical reaction A 2 +2B→2AB and derive analytic expressions for rate of reaction, activation enthalpy, and reaction orders.After a discussion of a number of pitfalls in the analysis of measured kinetic data, we use the models with a range of realistic parameters to analyze degree of rate control, reaction orders, Arrhenius plots, the origin of volcano curves, and the origin compensation effects.Abrupt changes in slope in the Arrhenius plot are traditionally interpreted as the signature of a change in rate limiting step or the onset of diffusion phenomena. One of the main results of our analysis is that simple mechanisms with realistic parameters display such signatures without a change in rate limiting step and in the absence of transport phenomena.Finally, we extend our analysis to more complex reaction mechanisms by analysis of a number of important industrial reactions.