SummaryData for the sorption of added inorganic phosphate (P) by contrasting soils and iron oxide gel were resolved by a method of successive approximation of the Langmuir sorption constants. Three distinct Langmuir equations described the overall isotherm irrespective of the experimental conditions used. Free energies of sorption (ΔG) for a particular region were similar for each soil and for iron oxide gel under all experimental conditions. In contrast, the sorption maximum for each region was influenced by the sorbent and experimental conditions.Because of the pronounced similarities in their P sorption characteristics iron oxide gel was used as a model surface for P sorption by soils. Three mechanisms for P sorption by iron oxide gel and by soils are proposed: (i) chemisorption at protonated surface sites, (ii) chemisorption by replacement of surface hydroxyls, and (iii) a more‐physical sorption of P as a potential‐determining