The interaction of a number of nitrogen containing molecules (NO, NH3 and N2H4) with copper has been investigated by electron spectroscopy. Nitric oxide is shown to be molecularly adsorbed in a linearly bonded configuration at 85 K; this adlayer is unstable above 120 K, resulting in an exclusively oxygen adlayer at 295 K, the nitrogen being desorbed. At 85 K N(1s) peaks observed at 401 and 406 eV are associated with NO?–(ads) and NO?+(ads) species, the former dissociating and the latter desorbing on thermal activation of the adlayer.