Synthesis of a new highly sensitive water soluble color reagent meso-tetrakis(3-fluoro-4-sulfophenyl)porphine (I) is reported. In HOAc-NaOAc buffer at pH 6.4 and with a catalysis of mercury(II), the reaction of Cu(II)[or Zn(II)] with I was completed within 30 min at room temperature Simultaneous determination of copper(II) and zinc(II) can be performed with fourth-order derivative spectrophotometry. The apparent derivative molar absorption coefficients of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes are 8.13 ?105 and 1.59 ?106 at 412 and 424 nm, resp. The sensitivity of the method is high and the selectivity is excellent. Trace amts. of copper(II) and zinc(II) in Chinese tea, human blood, and lake water were determine without preseparation. The method is simple and the results are satisfactory.

Key words: SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, BLOOD, PORPHINE P, ZINC, WATER, COPPER, COLOR REACTION, DIFFERENTIATION, ORGANO FLUORINE COMPOUNDS, TEA LEAVES