This paper Determination of tin content in geological samples, and the color reaction of tin with cetyl trimethylamine- salicyl fluorone the experimental study, including photometric tests showed that, in the 0.5 ~ 2.5mol.L-1 sulfuric acid medium, the presence of the cetyl trimethylamine (CTMAB), tin salicylfluorone of one (SAF) to form a stable red complex spectrophotometer and a reagent blank solutionas reference, the absorbance was measured at 510nm wavelength;hydride role in the determination of tin element is also proved by experiments.