Adsorption of CS2 on a series of metal oxides (Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO and CeO2) activated at 723 or 973 K was studied at room temperature by FT-IR spectroscopy. In addition to hydrogen thiocarbonate and carbonate species, a new species, characterized by bands in the 1200-1000 cm(-1) range, was evidenced. Its amount increased by increasing activation temperature of metal oxides. Co-adsorption experiments of CS2 with either CO2 or pyridine showed that its adsorption sites are mainly those giving rise to bidentate carbonates from CO2. Experiments on ZrO2 preechanged by (H2O)-O-18 confirmed CS2 adsorption on basic O2- sites. Xanthate (COS2)(2-) species formation was proposed. Results were compared with metal oxide basicity and a nice agreement was observed. However, an ceria, carbonates formation easily occurred from CS2 adsorption, even at room temperature, suggesting that CS2 can probe both surface basicity, through the intensity of bands due to xanthate species, and surface oxygen mobility, involved in the surface transformation of xanthate into carbonate species.