Adsorption states of nitrogen on tungsten pentamers supported on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray excited Auger electron spectroscopy. An adsorption state that is not seen on a bulk polycrystalline tungsten surface was observed at temperatures below room temperature. It has been found that the adsorption state is a molecular state and is a precursor to dissociation of N-2 on the tungsten nanocluster. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.