Four chelating matrices prepared by coupling Amberlite XAD-2 with chromotropic acid (AXAD-2-CA or 1), pyrocatechol (AXAD-2-PC or 2) and thiosalicylic acid (AXAD-2-TSA or 3) through azo spacer and impregnation of Amberlite XAD-7 with xylenol orange (AXAD-7-XO or 4) have been studied for enrichment of lead(II). All the four resins quantitatively sorb Pb(II) at pH 3.0-8.0 when the flow rate is maintained between 2 and 10 mlmin(-1). HNO(3) (0.5-4.0 M) instantaneously elutes Pb(II) from all the four chelating resins. The sorption capacity is in the range 16.0-186.0 mumolg(-1) and loading half time (t(1/2)) between 3.2 and 15.5 min. The tolerance limits of electrolytes (NaCl, NaBr, NaNO(3), Na(2)SO(4), Na(3)PO(4)) and cations (Ca and Mg) are reported. Phosphate interferes in the sorption with 3 and 4. The limit of detection and limit of quantification have been found to be in the ranges 2.44-7.87 and 2.76-8.64 ngml(-1), respectively. Lead has been determined in river (RSD approximately 2.6-12.8%) and tap (RSD approximately 1.8-7.2%) water samples.