Abstract: Anew highly sensitive colour reaction of palladium ( Ⅱ ) has been investigated, based on the formation of an aqueous soluble ion-association complex of palladium( Ⅱ ) with potassium iodide and rhodamine 6G(R6G) in the presence of polyvinylalcohol(PVA). The absorption maximum of the ion-association complex is at 560 nm, and its apparent molar absorptivity is 4.5×10⁵ 1·mole^-1·cm^-1 at 560 nm; Beer's law is obeyed for 0-80 ng/rnl of palladium. The interference of 40 dverse ions was studied. The proposed procedure was applied to the determination of palladium in anode slime.