A method is described for the spectrophotometric determination of manganese by means of its complex with 4(5)-imidazolealdoxime, IMALOX, formed in alkaline medium. The colour system has its absorption maximum at 350 nm and obeys Beer's law over the range 0.8–8.0 μg of Mn per ml. The optimum range is 1–5 μg m−1. The molar absorptivity is 7850 1 mol−1cm−1. Relatively few ions interfere, and these can be masked with cyanide, tartrate and NTA. The experimental results have been critically analyzed and a comparison with the main spectrophotometric reagents for manganese is presented.