Chemisorption of water vapor on zinc oxide has been studied with the help of conductivity and ESR measurements. It was concluded that both Zn+O- and Zn+O2- ion pair sites act as adsorption centers for H2O molecules which are dissociatively chemisorbed as [middle dot]OH and [middle dot]H radicals. Chemisorption on Zn+O- sites has lower activation energy and results in decrease in conductivity. An increase in conductivity is observed when chemisorption takes place on Zn+O2- sites. Desorption studies indicate that parts of the chemisorbed [middle dot]H and [middle dot]OH radicals are removable as H2O. This may be due to the fact that dehydrogenation of (100), (100), and (101) surfaces is easier, but this is not the case with (0001) and (000) surfaces. ESR measurements provide support for the mechanism of chemisorption proposed on the basis of conductivity data.