1. Langmuir explained the action of catalyst in heterogeneous catalysed reactions based on adsorption. The reactant molecules are adsorbed on the catalyst surfaces, so this can also be called as contact catalysis.
2. According to this theory, various steps involved in a heterogeneous catalyse reaction are given as follows:
(i) Reactant molecules diffuse from bulk to the catalyst surface.
(ii) The reactant molecules are adsorbed on the surface of the catalyst.
(iii) The adsorbed reactant molecules are activated and form activated complex which is decomposed to form the products.
(iv) The product molecules are desorbed.
(v) The product diffuse away from the surface of the catalyst.

The intermediate compound formation theory :
A catalyst acts by providing a new path with low energy of activation. In homogeneous catalysed reactions a catalyst may combine with one or more reactant to form an intermediate which reacts with other reactant or decompose to give products and the catalyst is regenerated.
Consider the reactions :
A+B➝AB; C is the catalyst .............(1)
A + C ➝ AC (intermediate) ..........(2)
AC + B ⟶ AB + C ...............(3)
Example 1:
The mechanism of Fridel crafts reaction is given below
\({ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 6 }+{ { CH }_{ 3 }Cl\overset { anhydrous\\ { AlCl }_{ 3 } }{ \longrightarrow } }{ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 5 }{ CH }_{ 3 }+HCl\) 
The action of catalyst is explained as follows
CH₃Cl + AlCl₃ ⟶ [CH₃]⁺ [AlCl₄]^-
It is an intermediate.
\({ C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 6 }+\left[ { CH }_{ 3 }^{ + } \right] \left[ { AlCl }_{ 4 } \right] ^{ - }\longrightarrow { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 5 }{ CH }_{ 3 }+{ AlCl }_{ 3 }+Hcl\) 
Example 2:
\({ { 2KClO }_{ 3 }\overset {\\ { MnO }_{ 3 } }{ \longrightarrow } }{ 2KCl }+{ 3O }_{ 2 }\)
Thermal decomposition of KCIO₃ in the presence of MnO₂ proceeds as follows. Steps in the reaction
2KCIO₃ ⟶ 2KCI + 3O₂ Can be given as
2KClO₃ + 6MnO₂   →  6MnO₃ + 2KCl
It is an intermediate
6MnO₃ → 6MnO₂ + 3O₂
Example 3:
Formation of water due to the reaction of H₂ and O₂ in the presence of Cu can be given as
H₂ + 1/2O₂ → H₂O 
2Cu + \(\frac{1}{2}\)O₂   → Cu₂O
It is an intermediate.
Cu₂O + H₂  → H₂O + 2Cu
Advantages:
This theory describes
(a) The specificity of a catalyst and
(b) The increase in the rate of the reaction with increasc inthe concentration of a catalyst
Limitations:
(a) The intermediate compound theory fails to explain the action of catalytic poison and activators (promoters).
(b) This theory is unable to explain the mechanism of heterogeneous catalysed reactions.