Abstract: Anew sensitive method for the determination of trace mercury is proposed. Mercury (Ⅱ) reacts with Safranine T (C. I. Basic Red 2; C. I. 50240) to form a red complex in H₂SO₄ medium in the presence of NaRr. The association complex is readily extracted by non-aqueous solvents, e.g. mixture of cyclohexane-butanone (3+2) or butylacetate. The absorbance of the extract is measured at 528nm (ε = 5.0×10⁴-5.4×10⁴1 mol^-1 cm^-1) vs. mixture of cyclohexanebutanone (3+2) or butylacetate. Beer's law is obeyed for 0—5, 0—20 μg Hg/10ml. This method may be used in the analysis of ores.