AbstractRaman spectra of benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and complexes of lanthanides with benzoic acid, of general formula Ln(Obz)3(Ln = lanthanum, neodymium, terbium, dysprosium or lutetium; OBz= benzoic acid radical) were recorded. The Raman bands of lanthanide benzoates were interpreted on the basis of the Raman and IR spectra. Analysis of benzene ring vibrations, active in the Raman and IR spectra, and electronic transitions in the UV and visible spectra provided information on the effect of metal coordination on the aromatic system of benzoic acid.