Samarium(III)-selective electrodes constructed on the basis of bis(alkylxanthato)alkanes and bis(thiaalkylxanthato)alkanes are described. As a class, both types of compounds showed quantitative responses toward Sm-(III) ion. Among the ionophores tested in this work, the neutral carrier, 1,4-bis(3-thiapentylxanthato)butane, provided an ion-selective electrode almost ideal for determination of Sm(III) in aqueous solution. This electrode exhibits a Nernstian slope of 20 mV per concentration decade, with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10 -7 M Sm(NO 3 ) 3 . Acceptable selectivity was obtained for Sm(III) determination against many of the transition, alkali, alkalineearth, and some of the lighter rare-earth metal ions. Only Cu(II) and Fe(III) interfere seriously.