C-H and C-D stretching vibrations of h(5)- and d(5)-pyridine adsorbed on various metal oxides have been investigated by infrared spectroscopy. Experimental spectra were further compared with density functional (DFT) calculations of the interaction of pyridine with cluster models. Both vCH(D) frequencies and intensities are sensitive to the adsorption mode and allow one to distinguish between H-bonded, protonated and coordinated species. In the case of coordinated species, an increase in v(CH) frequencies is observed and it could be correlated with the v(8a). and v(19b) frequency shifts which are commonly used to assess acid strength of metal oxides. It is found that the study of v(CH) modes is more reliable than that of the v(8a) and v(19b) modes to distinguish H-bonded from weakly coordinated species. An example of such an application is given for the cases of CeO2, MgO and CaO. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.