The adsorption of formic acid on evaporated copper and aluminum surfaces was studied using an infrared reflection method. The molecular orientation of the chemisorbed species on metal surfaces was successfully observed by this technique. When formic acid vapor was introduced over copper or aluminum surfaces, formate ions were observed. The reflection spectra of formate ions on copper showed the 1360-cm-1 band of the symmetric OCO stretching vibration but not the 1600-cm-1 antisymmetric OCO band; whereas the reverse was true of the transmission spectra of smooth copper films deposited on the polished KBr plates. These results lead to the conclusion that the chemisorbed formate molecules are oriented almost vertically on the smooth copper surface. Nitric monoxide and isoamyl nitrite adsorbed on evaporated copper, nickel, and iron surfaces were also investigated and discussed.