O(2) adsorption in proton, sodium and copper exchanged chabazite has been studied using periodic and cluster approaches by means of density functional theory. The Grimme's correction has been used to include the dispersion contribution to B3LYP. Two cation locations have been considered: one with the cation at the six-membered ring (MCHA(I)) and the other with the cation at the 8-membered ring (MCHA(IV)). The O(2)-HCHA and O(2)-NaCHA adsorption complexes present a eta(1)-O(2) bent coordination. The adsorption energies, which are due to dispersion, are between -15 and -19 kJ mol(-1), in agreement with the experimental values. On the other hand, the O(2) coordination to CuCHA is through a eta(2)-side-on mode with a square planar coordination around the metal center. This structure favors the Cu d -->pi* O(2) charge transfer which becomes the predominant stabilizing factor. The adsorption of singlet states of O(2) in HCHA and NaCHA, modeled with an ONIOM M12T:48T, is of the same nature as that of the ground state, and only the highest in energy (1)Sigma is significantly more stabilized in MCHA than the triplet state by 14 to 24 kJ mol(-1). The adsorption of singlet O(2) in Cu exchanged zeolites presents a higher electron transfer from Cu(+) to O(2) than that calculated for the triplet species and thus both singlet states are stabilized with respect to the ground state O(2). Generally, singlet oxygen appears more attractive to active zeolite models than those calculated with triplet oxygen, indicating a source of oxidative efficiency for designed structures.