Impurity effects of trace lanthanum ion (La 31) on the dissolution and growth of calcium carbonate were studied with in situ observation techniques. Dissolution kinetics of two polymorphs of calcium carbonate, calcite and vaterite, were investigated by monitoring the pH in the solution with laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy using a pH-sensitive reagent, seminaphthorhodafluors. No effect on dissolution of vaterite was observed with the spectroscopic observations, whereas calcite dissolution was significantly inhibited by lanthanum ion with concentrations higher than 1 muM. Crystal growth and dissolution processes of calcite under the lanthanum-doped condition were observed by means of atomic force microscopy. Step propagations during crystal growth and dissolution of calcite were inhibited by trace lanthanum ion (5 muM). An insoluble thin layer of lanthanum carbonate deposited on the step site of the calcite surface could be a possible cause of the inhibitions observed both for dissolution and growth. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.