The corrosive adsorption of Pr atoms on Pt(111) was studied by variable temperature STM, TPD and AES. Photoinduced dissociative electron attachment to adsorbed CH3Br at 193 nm was used to dose hot Br anions onto the surface at 90 K. Br formed two ordered structures on Pt(111): (3 x 3) and (root 3 x root 3)R30 degrees. STM images showed that both structures can coexist at intermediate coverage. Photofragmentation of CH3Br produced Pt atom monovacancies on the Pt(111) surface which were attributed to abstractive attack by the hot Pr anions. The initial monovacancy etching efficiency of the adsorbing Pr anions was high, roughly 33%. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.