The hydrogen oxidation reaction (hor) was studied on a polycrystalline ruthenium electrode in H2SO4 solution at different rotation rates (omega). The experimental polarization curves recorded on steady state show the existence of a maximum current with a non-linear dependence of the current density on omega(1/2). On the basis of the Tafel-Heyrovsky-Volmer kinetic mechanism, coupled with a process of inhibition of active sites by the reversible electroadsorption of hydroxyl species, it was possible to appropriately describe the origin of the maximum current. The corresponding set of kinetic parameters was also calculated from the correlation of the experimental results with the proposed kinetic model. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.