Using hexane-1,6-diyl bis (4,4,4-trifluoro-3-oxobutanoate) (H 2 hdfob), the mechanism for extracting rare earth metal ions to the organic phase was evaluated. From slope analysis, it was clarified that one divalent metal hydroxide ion reacts with two H 2 hdfob where one of the protons is dissociated from each ligand. Such a complexation formed the 1 : 2 metal-ligand neutral complex. Such a complex formation reaction is very similar to that of Co 2+ or Ni 2+ , which form a 1 : 1 metal-ligand neutral complex.