By means of mass spectrometry and thermal desorption (TD) spectroscopy under dynamic superhigh vacuum, species of oxygen adsorbed on disperse zinc oxide have been separated, and their relative activities in reactions with electron-donor molecules have been evaluated. In the TD spectrum, the species of oxygen that are most active in oxidation reactions have been distinguished. The magnitude of the total coverage and filling of various states depends greatly on the conditions of adsorbent pretreatment (this is related to the features of defect formation) and also on the method of application of the adsorbate (adsorption of molecular oxygen or dissociation of N//2O). In the latter case, high-activity oxygen is generated as an intermediate.