The chemisorption of SO, on a W and a Pt surface has been investigated by flash desorption mass spectrometry (FDMS) and AES. AES data indicate that the chemisorbed sulfur dioxide molecules oxidized the W surface, and produced a stable tungsten oxide during the heating (up to 1400K) process. FDMS data indicate that the decomposition of SO, yielded elemental and molecular sulfur during the desorption process. FDMS data show that SO, exists in four binding states (al, a,, a3 and a,,) on a clean Pt surface and in three binding states (a5, a6 and a,) on an oxidized Pt surface. In addition, the coadsorption of SO2 and 0, was carried out on a Pt surface. The coadsorption process can produce SO3 which exists in two different binding states on a Pt surface. The data indicate that the oxidation of SO, to form SO3 on a Pt surface occurs by means of a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.