Using the two independent measuring techniques, mass comparison and ellipsometry, described in Part I, adsorption layers on stainless steel mass standards and artefacts of nominal value 1 kg have been determined directly and precisely as a function of pressure in the range 5 × 10-3 Pa ⩽ p ⩽ 1 × 105 Pa. For clean, polished surfaces (average peak-to-valley height Rz ⩽ 0,12 μm) reversible sorption isotherms with a coefficient of (0,024 ± 0,005) μg cm-2 were found due to the transition from normal pressure (relative humidity h = 0,03) to the pressure of 0,1 Pa. For uncleaned surfaces this coefficient rises by a factor of about 2,5. At pressures below 0,1 Pa irreversible adsorption was observed with a constant adsorption rate of about 0,012 μg cm-2 d-1, independent of the surface cleanliness. This sorption effect is attributed to continuous condensation of oil particles originating from the turbomolecular pump used.