The chemical effect on the L-i (i=l, alpha, beta, beta(1), beta(2), gamma) X-ray fluorescence cross-sections, the L X-ray intensity ratios and the average L shell fluorescence yields of Sm and Eu binary compounds with halogen (F, Cl and Br) were investigated. The samples were excited by 59.543 key photons emitted from an Am-241 radioisotope source. X-rays emitted from the samples were counted by means of a Si(Li) detector, which has a resolution 155 eV at 5.9 keV. The experimental values were compared with the calculated theoretical values (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.