The adsorption of arsenate (As(V)) on kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite was investigated at varying pH and competing anion concentration while holding As(V) concentration (6.7 × 10−7M), clay suspension density (2.5 g L−1) and ionic strength (0.1 M NaCl) constant. The effects of 2 concentrations of phosphate (P) or molybdate (Mo) (6.7 × 10−7 and 6.7 × 10−6M) on As(V) adsorption envelopes (adsorption vs. pH) gave evidence for direct competitive adsorption (in the case of As(V) + P) and possibly site-specific non-competitive adsorption (As(V) + Mo). Distinct As(V) adsorption maxima occurred at approximately pH 5.0 for kaolinite, 6.0 for montmorillonite and 6.5 for illite, and ranged from 0.15 to 0.22 mmol As(V) kg−1. When both As(V) and P were present at equimolar concentrations (6.7 × 10−7M), As(V) adsorption decreased slightly, whereas As(V) adsorption substantially decreased in binary As(V)/P systems when the P concentration was 6.7 × 10−6M, which was 10 times greater than As(V). The presence of Mo at equimolar (6.7 × 10−7 M) and 10 times greater (6.7 × 10−6M) concentrations than As(V) caused only slight decreases in As(V) adsorption because the Mo adsorption maximum occurred at pH < 4. The constant capacitance surface complexation model was applied to As(V) and P adsorption data and was used to predict As(V) adsorption at varying P concentrations. The model gave reasonable descriptions of As(V) adsorption on the 3 clay minerals at varying pH and in the presence of a competing oxyanion (P), indicating that surface complexation modeling may be useful in predicting As(V) adsorption in soils.