The effect of the structure of some tertiary amines on the processes of the separation of cerium and neodymium nitrates by extraction has been examined. It was found that the changes in extracting power of these amines owing to their different structures can not be explained by only the inductive effects of the substituents on the nitrogen atom. The steric factors in extraction of rare earth elements (REE) by tertiary amines are of primary importance, the extraction mechanism of these elements vary with the change of the amine structure. It has been shown that the methyldialkylamines are the most effective extractants among the investigated amines for both the extraction and the separation of REE. This can be explained by the considerable reduction of the hydrocarbon part of the molecules of these extractants and by the consequent change of the extracting mechanism.