Influence of gas atmosphere used in the calcination of MgO (flowing oxygen, air, helium, nitrogen) on its basicity has been investigated. Pure MgO of relatively low basicity and MgO of higher basicity, containing Ca and Na compounds as impurities, were examined. The surface basicity/base strength distribution was measured using a test reaction of transformation of 2-butanol and a temperature-programmed desorption Of CO2. Both methods revealed that the calcination of MgO samples in the stream of oxygen or air gave MgO of lower basicity than obtained by calcination in the stream of helium or nitrogen. This effect may indicate a different character of interactions between various gas-phase molecules and the surface. It was also shown that MgO calcined in oxygen or air when used in the catalytic oxidative coupling of methane, gave lower conversions of methane and oxygen than that calcined in the inert gas atmosphere. The choice of a gas used in the calcination of MgO, may therefore, influence the basicity and catalytic properties of calcined MgO.