La(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O-3 was synthesized via citric acid precursor. The effect of the pH of the starting solution and the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration CA/M on the formation of La(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O-3 was studied. It is found that increasing the pH of the starting solutions and the molar ratio of citric acid to total metal cations concentration enhances the formation of La(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O-3. Single-phase La(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O-3 was obtained from the precursor with CA/M= 1 and pH=7 at 800 degrees C for 2h, without formation of any intermediate phase. The precursors and derived powders were characterized by DTA, TG, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.