A set of 21 mutagenic aliphatic N-nitrosamines were subjected to a pattern recognition analysis using ADAPT software. Four descriptors based on molecular connectivity, geometry and sigma charge on nitrogen were capable of achieving a 100% classification using the linear learning machine or iterative least squares algorithms. Three descriptors were capable of a 90.5% and two descriptors of a 85.7% overall correct classification. Three of the four descriptors were each capable of classifying 15 of the 16 active chemicals while it required three of the four descriptors to correctly classify two of the five inactive chemicals. These results are in concert with previous observations that molecular connectivity, geometry, and sigma charge on nitrogen are powerful descriptors for separating active from inactive mutagenic and carcinogenic N-nitrosamines.