text: Zirconia exists in the monoclinic, tetragonal or cubic crystal system depending on the temperature. The surface acidity and basicity of the oxide depends on the crystal structure and surface orientation. The surfaces of zirconia have hydroxyl groups, which can act as Brønsted acids or bases, and coordination-unsaturated ZrO acid base pairs which contribute to its overall acid–base properties. Adsorption studies have shown that monoclinic zirconia is more basic than tetragonal, as it forms stronger bonds with CO. Adsorption of CO shows that the tetragonal phase has more acidic Lewis acid sites than the monoclinic phase, but that it has a lower concentration of Lewis acid sites.