A method for the spectrophotometric determination of yttrium using dibenzo-18-crown-6 is described. Yttrium forms a colourless complex with dibenzo-18-crown-6, [Y(OH)(3) [L], which is extracted in dichloromethane, lambda (max) 280 nm, molar absorptivity 1.35 x 10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). The extract is directly inserted in the plasma for [CP-AES measurement of yttrium which enhances the sensitivity to several fold with the detection limit I ng ml(-1). The over all formation (beta K-2 ') and distribution (K-e) constants calculated are 19.20 +/- 0.05 and 8.05 +/- 0.05 x 10(-9). respectively. The colour was developed with xylenol orange having the lambda (max) 555 nm with the molar absorptivity 5.48 x 10(3) 1 mol(-1) cm(-1). The system obeys Beers law in the range 0.81-16.2 mug ml(-1) of yttrium. The yttrium is separated and determined in the presence of Sr-90. To check the validity of the proposed method the yttrium was determined in standard rock samples.