The complexation of 1,2,5,8-tetrahydroxyanthraquinonern(quinalizarin) with some trivalent lanthanide ions: Sm(III),rnTb(III), Ce(III), and La(III) has been studiedrnspectrophotometrically and potentiometrically. The methods ofrncontinuous variation and mole ratio indicate the metal to ligandrnratio is 1:1. The stability of the complexes were found to be inrnthe order Sm > Tb > Ce > La.rnSolid lanthanide-quinalizarin complexes were also isolated.rnThe solid complexes are fine dark powders,insoluble in water andrncommon organic solvents. From elemental analysis, thermalrnanalysis and infrared spectra the complexes are characterized asrnchelate polymers, with a formula of [Ln(Cu H,O.)XH201 n (X = 5 whenrnLn = Sm, Ce and X = 6 when Ln = La, Tb). The relative thermalrnstability of three of the complexes were determined fromrndifferential thermal analysis, and are in the order: Sm > Ce~La.