An ion chromatographic procedure is described for the determination of alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions in sea water the molar ratios of which, referred to lithium, are: 2.5 . 10(4) for sodium, 5 . 10(2) for potassium and calcium, and 3.5 . 10(3) for magnesium. Lithium, potassium, magnesium and calcium are simultaneously analyzed after a 50-fold dilution, sodium is determined separately after a 2000-fold dilution. For all these elements, a dynamic range of several orders of magnitude and a R.S.D. varying from 0.2-2.2%, though typically lower than 1%, were found.