The energetics of Pb film grown at 300 K on two well-defined oxides [a MgO(100) thin film and a p(2 x 1)-oxide on Mo(100)] have been measured using single-crystal absorption microcalorimetry. The evolution of the film morphology was followed using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). An initial heat of absorption of 103 kJ/mol is observed for the Pb/MgO(100) system. Auger results indicate that this is due to the formation of an similar to 20 atom Pb island in the first pulse of Pb gas incident on the MgO(100) surface. This allows the extraction of a Pb-MgO(100) bond energy of similar to 32 +/-2 kJ/mol in the small two-dimensional particles formed in the first pulse. As more Pb is deposited onto the MgO(100) surface, the Pb forms three-dimensional islands. The integral of the heats of absorption up to high coverage indicates an adhesion energy of 76.5 +/- similar to 20 muJ/cm(2) for large 3D Pb particles to the MgO(100) substrate. This indicates a Pb-MgO(100) bond energy of 49 +/- 13 kJ/mol at the 3D interface. Similar analyses of the Pb/p(2 x 1)-oxide on Mo(100) surface give an initial heat of absorption of 146.2 kJ/mol and an adhesion energy of 82.5 +/- 20 muJ/cm(2) for thick Pb films. This indicates a bond energy of 52 +/- 12 kJ/mol for a Pb atom to this surface at the interface of a thick Pb film. The metal's sticking probabilities as a function of coverage and the coverage-dependent changes in optical reflectivity were measured. For the Pb/MgO(100) system, an initial sticking probability of 0.70 at 300 K was observed, whereas for the Pb/p(2 x 1)-oxide on Mo(100) surface unit sticking probability was observed. The relationship between these quantities and the adsorption energetics is discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.