Static secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SSIMS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were used under ultrahigh vacuum conditions to study the decomposition of CH{sub 3}SH on Ni(100). Only methane, hydrogen, and the parent molecule are observed in TPD. Complete decomposition to C(a), S(a) and desorbing H{sub 2} is the preferred reaction pathway for low exposures, while desorption of methane is observed at higher coverages. Preadsorbed hydrogen promoted methane desorption. Upon adsorption, and for low coverages, SSIMS evidence indicates S-H bond cleavage into CH{sub 3}S and surface hydrogen. S-H bond cleavage is inhibited for high coverages. The TP-SSIMS data are consistent with an activated C-S bond cleavage in CH{sub 3}S, with an activation energy of 8.81 kcal/mol and preexponential factor of 10{sup 6.5}s{sup {minus}1}. The low preexponential factor is taken as indicating a complex decomposition pathway. A mechanism consistent with the observed data is discussed.