A new chromogenic reagent, 2-(2-quinolylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol (QADEAP) was synthesized. A highly sensitive, selective and rapid method for the determination of silver based on the rapid reaction of silver(I) with QADEAP has been developed. In the presence of citric acid–sodium hydroxide buffer solution (pH=5.0) and sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) medium, QADEAP reacts with silver to form a violet complex of a molar ratio 1:2 (silver to QADEAP). The molar absorptivity of the complex is 1.33×105 L mol–1 cm–1at 590 nm. Beer' s law is obeyed in the range of 0.01–0.6 µg mL–1. The relative standard deviations for eleven replicate samples of 0.2 µg mL–1 is 1.38%. This method was applied to the determination of silver in water with satisfactory results.