Using a CH4-O-2 and a CH4-N2O reaction mixture, N2O was shown to be a more active and a more selective oxidant then O-2 when CH4 conversion was similar for both oxidants. It was established that the defect structure of SrO was changed under catalytic conditions. The participation of defects of SrO in the N2O decomposition was proposed. The presence of hydrogen significantly enhances the decomposition of N2O and the formation of C2H6 over SrO.