The effects of treatment in several etchants on CdTe, Cd1–x Mnx Te, Cd1–x Znx Te surface stoichiometry are studied. Simple chemical etching of CdTe, Cd1–x Mnx Te, Cd1–x Znx Te causes a relief and contamination of near‐surface layer with etchant components. It was determined that Cd, Mn, Zn are washed out into the solution as a result of material treatment in bromine‐methanol etchant, and, consequently, the surface is enriched with elemental tellurium and its oxides. Treatment in alkaline solutions allows minimizing the violation of surface stoichiometry. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)