The transformation of n-decane was studied at 473 K, 101 kPa and p(H2)/p(n-decane) = 9 on a series of PtHY catalysts containing from 0.02 to 1.5 wt% platinum and with Si/Al atomic ratios of 3, 9, or 35. The ratio between the number of accessible Pt atoms and the number of acid sites on which the heat of ammonia adsorption is greater than 100 kJ mol(-1) (n(Pt)/n(A)) was chosen for characterizing the balance between the hydrogenating and the acid functions. The activities, stabilities, and selectivities of the catalysts are definitely governed by this balance. For low values of n(Pt)/n(A) (< 0.03), the activity per acid site is low, the deactivation is rapid and n-decane leads directly to all the isomerization and cracking products. For high values (greater than or equal to 0.17) the activity per acid site is maximal, the deactivation is very slow and n-decane transforms successively into monobranched isomers, dibranched isomers, and tribranched isomers plus cracking products. In this latter case the catalyst can be considered as an ideal bifunctional catalyst, namely a catalyst on which only one transformation of the alkene intermediates on the acid sites can occur during their diffusion from the platinum sites on which they are generated to those on which they are hydrogenated. Therefore the reaction scheme of n-decane transformation matches the reaction scheme of olefinic intermediates. From the product distribution established on ideal catalysts the mechanism of the transformation of olefinic intermediates can be deduced. Branching isomerization occurs through protonated cyclopropane and cyclobutane intermediates. The cracking products result from the beta-scission steps of tribranched decenes which involve two tertiary carbenium ion intermediates (mode A) and from the beta-scission steps of dibranched decenes which involve one tertiary and one secondary carbenium ion intermediate (mode B). The participation of the beta-scission of mono, di, and tribranched decenes through mode C (via two secondary carbenium ion intermediates) is negligible. The rate constants of the various steps involved in n-decane transformation are estimated. They can be classified in the following order : A cracking > Methyl shift > Branching > B cracking much greater than C cracking.