The complexation of lanthanum(III), europium(III), dysprosium(III), erbium(III), and lutetium(III) with D‐gluconic acid (LH) was studied by pH potentiometry and NMR. The set of complexes formed in aqueous solutions and their stability constants β were determined, and the results were compared to those previously found for praseodymium(III) (S. Giroux et al., Polyhedron 2000, 19, 1567). A regular evolution of the β values was observed along the lanthanide series, particularly for the neutral complex MLH−2 (where two hydroxy functions were deprotonated) with a selectivity similar to that of EDTA. For the ML2+ complex, where the ligand was coordinated via the carboxylate groups, the analysis of the 13C NMR pseudo‐contact shift showed that the carboxylate group was not bidentate and that there was a participation of the α‐hydroxy group in the coordination. The study of the complexation of PrIII with other hydroxy carboxylic acids: glyceric, threonic, 2‐hydroxybutanoic, and 3‐hydroxybutanoic acids confirms that in the complex MLH−2 the deprotonated hydroxy groups, that intervene in the coordination with the metal ion, are those in α and γ positions relative to the carboxylate group. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)