Acid-base properties of the pure alumina and aluminas modified by addition of various ions were determined by IR spectroscopic and Benesi method. The quality and concentration of OH groups of alumina samples containing SO42-, F-, Cl-, Na+, Zn2+ and Mg2+ ions were determined by IR spectroscopy, Pyridine, benzonitrile and carbon monoxide were used to determine the concentration and strength of aprotic centres and deuteriochloroform was used to determine the concentration and strength of basic centres. The results allowed to evaluate changes in the above properties caused by changes in the concentration of ions in alumina. It was found that the total acidity of modified aluminas determined by Benesi method correlates well with the relative proportion of acidic OH groups in the total spectrum of OH groups.