Characterization, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of light trivalent lanthanide succinates, Ln(2)(C4H4O4)(3)center dot nH(2)O (Ln = La to Gd, except Pm) were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy, TG-FTIR system, elemental analysis and complexometry. The dehydration of the lanthanum and cerium compounds occurs in a single step, while for the praseodymium to gadolinium compounds the dehydration occurs in two consecutive steps. The thermal decomposition of the anhydrous compounds occurs in consecutive and/or overlapping steps, except for the cerium compound, with formation of the respective oxides, CeO2, Pr6O11 and Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = La, Nd to Gd), as final residue. The results also provided information concerning the denticity of the ligand and thermal behaviour of these compounds. (C) 2010 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.