Abstract Chromium(III) reacts with 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol at 80–95°C in acid media (pH 5.7), in presence of benzoate and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Presence of surfactant increases sensitivity of the complex and reduces heating time to 5 min, thus giving rise to perhaps the most rapid method for absorptiometric determination of chromium(III). The 1:1 complex obeys Beer’s law for 0.2 to 2.4 μg of Cr(III) per ml, has molar absorptivity and Sandell sensitivity of 1.46×104 dm3mol−1cm−1 and 3.5 ng cm−2 respectively, at 575 nm.