Goethite nanoparticles synthesized using hydrazine sulfate as a modifying agent were evaluated for As(V) adsorption capacity. The nanoparticles were characterized for their morphological and structural features. The precipitated goethite particles were spherical with particle size of less than 10 nm. Batch adsorption study was carried out systematically varying parameters such as pH, contact time, initial As(V) concentration and adsorbent doses. The Langmuir isotherm represented the equilibrium data well and the estimated monolayer adsorption capacity at ambient temperature was 76 mg/g, which is significantly higher than most of the adsorbents reported in the literature. Adsorption kinetic data were better represented by the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Intra-particle diffusion played a significant role in the rate controlling process in the initial hour. Desorption study showed that the loaded adsorbent could be regenerated when treated with dilute sodium hydroxide solution of pH 13.