The study of the oxidation kinetics of pyridine was completed in the temperature range of 948 to 1073/sup 0/K and concentration ranges of 1.75 to 7.0 mole % oxygen; 0.25 to 2.0 mole % pyridine. The rate law is rate = k(C/sub 5/H/sub 5/N)/sup 1/2/(0/sub 2/)(..delta..0/sub 2/)/sup 1/2/, where ..delta..0/sub 2/ is oxygen consumed (autocatalysis). The temperature dependence is k = 10/sup 14.7 - .7/exp(-26600 - 1600/T)(1/mole s). The yield of HCN appeared insensitive to changes in temperature, concentrations and equivalence ratio, and only trace amounts of nitrogen oxides and ammonia were found. Fuel-rich mixtures produced large amounts of smoke so that a nitrogen balance was not possible but for lean mixtures HCN and N/sub 2/ accounted for the product nitrogen. Increase to 2% pyridine and 14% oxygen produced reduced yields of HCN and increased yields of N/sub 2/, N/sub 2/O, and NO. H/sub 2/ had no influence on the rates of pyrolysis and oxidation of pyridine. At 1073/sup 0/K HCN was oxidized at a measurable rate, added benzene increased the rate of oxidation at low equivalence ratios and reduced it at ratios above 0.9, with no significant nitrogen oxides produced, added acetylene increased the oxidation rate and also produced NO. It is clear that conditions can be found for the oxidation of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds that promote the formation of N/sub 2/ at the expense of NO.