A rate equation, which takes explicitly into account the surface reconstruction phenomena occurring (reversibly or irreversibly) while adsorption or desorption proceed, is proposed. The equation contains a few free parameters which specify the adsorption and desorption rate constants, and the reconstruction and irreversibility degrees of the process. A complete qualitative study of the solutions of the rate equation for two kinds of reversible and self-similar reconstruction is given. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.