Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies on clean polycrystalline graphite under Ultra High Vacuum conditions are described. The same three strongly bound oxygenated species are formed after O 2 , CO 2 and H 2 0 adsorption. They decompose to give CO at 973, 1093 and 1253 K. Small amounts of CO 2 are also produced after adsorption of these gases, with desorption temperatures at 463, 573, 693, 793 and 793 K. Attempts are made to ascribe these TPD features more precisely. After H 2 0 adsorption, some H2 is evolved at ca. 1300 K. Hydrocarbons (C l -C 6 ) are also produced, but is smaller amounts. A general mechanism is proposed for the gasification reactions of graphite with O 2 , CO 2 and H 2 0. Physical wetting of the clean graphite surface leads to a H 2 0 molecule re\'ersibly bound to the carbon surface. According to XPS data, a hydrate type of bond is proposed. Considerations on the non-catalytic as well as on the catalytic steam gasification of graphite are made. It is suggested that in both cases the reaction is not only controlled by the desorption of the products, i. e. the decomposition of the surface intermediates, but also by the sticking probability of the H 2 0 on the graphite edges.