The evaluation of soil contamination and pollution by trace elements (TEs), such as cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni), should not be based solely on the total content of these elements but also on their availability. The availability of elements in the soil is related to their mobility in solution, their uptake by plants, and consequently their entry into the food chain. The goal of this work was to evaluate, through sequential chemical extractions, the availability of Cd, Pb, and Ni in ten different soil samples from Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), previously saturated with these elements (1000 mg kg-1). The sequential extractions carried out were for the water-soluble fraction, exchangeable fraction, two organic fractions (extraction with DTPA and NaOH), fraction linked to manganese oxides, fraction linked to poorly crystallized iron oxides, fraction linked to crystallized iron oxides, and the residual fraction. The sequential extraction allowed us to detect differences in the distribution of TEs between soil samples and the conditions under which they were added (with or without competition between Cd, Pb, and Ni in the soil). Sequential extraction helps detect the distribution of Cd, Ni, and Pb in soil fractions. Therefore, it was found that in both non-competitive and competitive systems, Cd presented the greatest environmental risk, as it predominated in the soluble and exchangeable fractions in Ultisol, Oxisol, and Entisol soil types. On the other hand, Pb and Ni can be considered TEs of medium to minimal risk, as they prevailed above 60% in the organic fraction (Pb) in Oxisol, Mollisol, Entisol, and Alfisol soil types, and Pb was found above 50% in residual fractions in Ultisol, Entisol, and Oxisol soil types. Ni was found above 60% in residual fractions in Entisol, Ultisol, Oxisol, and Inceptisol soil types.