The present study provides a survey of relationships in current use to quantify sorption of reactive solutes by soil. Its purpose is to examine present concepts and to indicate active research directions. Both equilibrium and first‐order kinetic sorption models are reviewed. Equilibrium models discussed include the linear, Freundlich, Langmuir, two‐surface Langmuir, and competitive Langmuir isotherms. Kinetic sorption models reviewed are the reversible linear, reversible nonlinear, kinetic product, bilinear, mass transfer, Elovich, Fava and Eyring, and two‐site kinetic model.The models reviewed appear to provide a reasonably good basis for extrapolation and interpolation of data. There is a continuing need, however, to upgrade these methodologies as demand for accuracy and realism increases. It is expected that the state‐of‐the‐art review provided by this survey will assist in this process.