The adsorption of formaldehyde (HCHO) on Pt(111) and Pt(100) electrodes was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in 0.1 M HClO4. The extent of HCHO adsorption at both Pt electrodes was evaluated by comparing the CVs, particularly for the hydrogen adsorption and desorption between 0.05 and 0.4 V, obtained in 0.1 M HClO4 with and without HCHO. The adsorption of HCHO on these Pt electrodes was significant only when [HCHO] >= 10 mM. Adsorbed organic intermediate species acted as poisons, blocking Pt surfaces and causing delays in the oxidation of HCHO. Compared to Pt(111), Pt(100) was more prone to poisoning, as indicated by a 200 mV positive shift of the onset of HCHO oxidation. However, Pt(100) exhibited an activity 3 times higher than that of Pt(111), as indicated by the difference in peak current density of HCHO oxidation. Molecular resolution STM revealed highly ordered structures of Pt(111)-(root 7 x root 7)R19.1 degrees and Pt(100)-(root 2 x root 2) in the potential region between 0.1 and 0.3 V. Voltammetric measurements further showed that the organic poisons produced by HCHO adsorption behaved differently from the intentionally dosed CO admolecules, which supports the assumption for the formation of HCO or COH adspecies, rather than CO, as the poison. On both Pt electrodes, HCHO oxidation commenced preferentially at step sites at the onset potential of this reaction, but it occurred uniformly at the peak potentials.