The photoluminescent and reflectance spectra of MgO smoke have been compared with the spectra of MgO ex-hydroxide and ex-carbonate. Parallel studies by electron microscopy have shown that a strong correlation exists between the optical spectra and the different morphology of the particles obtained by the different routes. The spectra observed are associated with the surface of the oxide particles and the excitation and absorption bands are associated with oxygen ions in 3- and 4-fold coordination. The same kinds of sites are present on all samples but the ions of lowest coordination are much less abundant on the nearly perfect cubes of MgO smoke. The number of 3-fold coordinated sites on the smoke particles is considerably increased after exposure to water vapour for several h. This picture is consistent with the electron micrographs which show erosion of the edges and corners of the MgO smoke after treatment with water vapour. A model involving the removal of ion pairs from the corners and edges of the cube by water is shown to give the observed increase in the sites of lowest coordination.