It was found that the new reagent, 1 (2 hydroxy 3,5 dinitrophenyl) 3 (4 phenylazophenyl) triazene (abbreviated as HDNPAPT) reacts with Zn(Ⅱ) ion to form a stable red complex in a NaOH medium of pH 11~12 and in the presence of OP. The mole ratio of Zn(Ⅱ) to HDNPAPT was found to be 1 to 2. The absorption maxima was found to lie at 525nm with an apparent molar absorptivity of 9.15×10 4L·mol -1 ·cm -1 . Beer′s law was obeyed in the range of 0~10μg of Zn(Ⅱ) per 25ml of solution. The method has been applied satisfactorily ...