[en] Terbium sops (laureate, myristate and palmitate) were synthesized by direct metathesis of corresponding potassium soap with an aqueous solution of terbium nitrate. The physico-chemical characteristics of soaps in solid state were investigated by IR spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns and TGA measurements. The IR results revealed that the fatty acids exist in dimeric state through hydrogen bonding while the soaps possess partial ionic character. The X-ray analysis showed that the soaps have double layer structure with molecular axes slightly inclined to the basal plane. The thermal analysis suggested that the decomposition of soaps occur in two steps. The energy of activation, order of reaction and various kinetic parameters (i.e. frequency factor, entropy of activation and free energy) for the thermal decomposition of soaps were evaluated. (author). 26 refs, 4 figs, 4 tabs