As part of a systematic research programme on equiatomic ternary compounds of the type RTX (R is a rare earth, T a transition metal and X a metal out of the p block of the periodic table) crystallizing in the ZrNiAI structure, results for CePdxRh,_xln (x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 0.85, 0.9, 0.95, 1) are presented. The magnetic properties, specific heat and electrical resistivity as a function of magnetic field and temperature are reported. The development of the electronic properties from CeRhln with unstable 4f moments towards CePdln with localized 4f moments is discussed in terms of the influence on the valence state of Ce of the increase in the d-electron concentration due to gradual substitution of Rh in CeRhln by Pd. The almost trivalent state is found to be most favourable for the formation of the heavy-fermion state.