To understand the abnormal absorption behavior of rare earths in cation exchange resins, the absorption for Ce(III), Tb(III) and $Cl^-$ ions in Dowex 50W-X2 have been investigated by spectrophotometry in the concentration range of $1{sim}12$ M HCI and $HCl-HClO_4$ mixed solutions. The amount of $Cl^-$ ion absorbed shows that the ratio of amount of $Cl^-$ ions to that of rare earths does not exceed 10% in the concentration range of $6{sim}8M$ HCl and decreased gradually to 3% at 2M HCl and 6% at 12M HCl. The ratio is further decreased with the fraction of $HClO_4$ in $HCl-HClO_4$ mixed solutions and the decrease is presumably due to the weak tendency to form a complex between rare earths and $Cl^-$ ions in a cation exchange resin. The effect of $ClO_4^-$ is expected to play a more important role than that of $Cl^-$ ions in the large absorption of rare earths.