A new chromogenic reagent, 2-(2-quinolylazo)-5-dimethylaminoaniline (QADMAA) was synthesized. A sensitive, selective and rapid method for the determination of palladium based on the rapid reaction of palladium(II) with QADMAA was developed. In the presence of 0.5-2.5 mol L-1 of hydrochloric acid solution and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide medium QADMAA reacts with palladium to form a violet complex with a molar ratio of 1:2 (palladium to QADMAA). The molar absorptivity of the chelate is 1.35 x 10(5) L mol(-1) cm(-1) at 600 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0.01 to 0.6 μ g mL(-1). The detection limit is 1.2 μ g L-1. This method has been applied to the determination of palladium with good results.