The surface silanol groups on faujasite type zeolites, which were formed by hydrothermal and acid treatments and considered to be lattice defect, were characterized. IR measurements of silanol groups were made in situ and thermogravimetic analysis was conducted under vacuum so as to quantify their content. It was thus possible to quantify separately the concentration of silanol groups forming hydroxy nests and the concentration of terminal silanol groups present on the secondary pores and crystal external surfaces. As the evacuation temperature increased, silanol groups forming hydroxy nests were found to decrease as a result of dehydroxylation condensation. The number of terminal silanol groups on the secondary pores and external surface remained virtually unchanged. The concentration of terminal silanol groups agreed well with the value calculated according to the proposed destruction model of the zeolite framework. This justified the model that there remained the double 6-ring structure on the secondary pore surfaces after the sodalite cage was collapsed as a result of the treatments. The effect of silanol groups forming hydroxy nests on the zeolite surface polarity was examined by measuring immersional heats in various solvents. It turned out that the extremely localized silanol groups forming hydroxy nests in the framework were linked via hydrogen bond to each other and showed nonpolar behavior. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.